Islington S-Z

The introduction can be found here

First published 1986: Islington Local History Education Trust
Digital edition (revised) 2017: Islington Heritage Service


Islington A-D
Islington E-K
Islington L-R
Islington S-Z (this page)


SABLE GROVE, Sebbon Street
In 1843 rate book only.
SABLE STREET. Canonbury Square (1827)
On census returns until 1871.
The William Tyndale Primary School was from 1916-1949 called the Sebbon Street School. Renamed William Tyndale
1948, for Junior Mixed and Infants.
BARRATT HOUSE 1954.
SADLER HOUSE (Spa Green Estate), Rosebery Avenue (1949-50)
Named after Sadler’s Music House, the proprietor of which in 1683 discovered a well in the grounds, the origin of
Sadler’s Wells.
SADLER’S BUILDINGS
There in 1820.
Before 1863, City of London. Incorporated with and numbered with FANN STREET.
SADLER STREET (1910)
Formerly THOMAS STREET.
SAFFRON COURT, Essex Road (Mitchison/ Baxter Estate) (1980-1)
Sheltered housing.
ST.  ALBAN’S PLACE was the site of a famous demonstration of strength
ST. ANNE’S HOME FOR THE RETIRED, Durham Road See DURHAM ROAD.
ST. ANNE’S HOUSE (Margery Estate), Margery Street (1931)
Rebuilt 1984/5.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S MEDICAL COLLEGE, Charterhouse Square
Moved in in 1935.
Badly bombed during the Second World War. There was a medical school on the hospital site about 100 years before
1935.
The Queen Mother in April 1964 arrived at the College to open the Science Building, rebuilt after war damage. She
was welcomed by Arthur Goldhew, Mayor and Mayoress of Finsbury and Sir Douglas Logan, Principal of the
University of London.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S ROAD
A new street unpaved in December 1863. Re-numbered 1876. Named changed in 1894 to DALMENY AVENUE.
ST. CLEMENT’S BUILDINGS, Lever Street (1882)
London Labourers’ Dwellings Society.
ST. CLEMENT’S CHURCH HOUSE. St. Clements Street.
Re-numbered 1975. 54 Davey Close.
ST. CLEMENT’S PLACE
In register of electors 1954-1968. Formerly part of Cornelia Street.
ST. CLEMENT STREET, Barnsbury
Before 1875.
YORK PLACE, Barnsbury (qv) SUSSEX TERRACE and CLARENCE TERRACE.
The church of ST. CLEMENT’S, Westbourne Road, Barnsbury, was built at the sole expense of Mr. Thomas Edmund
Wilfred Cubitt as a proprietary Chapel.
Gilbert Scott (later Sir Giles Gilbert Scott) was the architect and the builders were Messrs. Dove Bros.
In 1966 the church acquired the organ formerly at St. Thomas’s, Regent Street which had over 1200 pipes and was
‘opened’ by Nicholas Jackson, then organist of St. Anne’s, Soho, on 24th January 1967.
In 1968 Bishop Athenagoras of the Greek Orthodox Church consecrated the church to be used by the Greek
community, the C.of E. congregation agreeing to use the church hall for their services.
In 1971 a service of exorcism conducted by the President of the British Occult Society, Sean Manchester, was held at
the church which had been named, with St. Michael’s Bingfield Street as being used by ‘devil worshippers’.
In 1983 the Council considered listed building consent to convert the church to 26 self-contained flats. Parish joined
to St. David’s, Westbourne Road 1976. MONTAGUE COURT 1953.
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH CENTRE
See NORTH ROAD.
ST. GEORGE’S AVENUE
On the 1881 census.
Before 1886 St. George’s Road. In the 1882 directory only one house, ‘Glen Tower’, no.1 is listed. More by 1883-4.
WILFRED FIENBURGH COURT 1960.
ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH, Crayford Road
See CRAYFORD ROAD.
ST. GEORGE’S COURT
See GEORGE’S COURT. After 1824 ALBION PLACE.
Dr. Thomas Birch (1705-1766), historian and biographer, born of Quaker parents. Father was Joseph Birch, coffee
mill maker. Lived with Joseph Besse (d. 1757), the Quaker publisher.
ST. GEORGE’S PLACE, Holloway, near Cornwall Place.
In rate books 1807 to 1818.
ST. GEORGE’S TERRACE (1841)
Only six houses in 1844. Built up more by 1849-50.
Re-numbered and altered to nos.49 to 127 Richmond Road (since 1938, Avenue) by 1891-2.
ST. GEORGE’S VILLAS, Compton Road (1850)
After 1868 nos. 1-21 Compton Road.
ST. HELENA HOUSE (Margery Estate) (1931)
ST. HELENA PLACE
Name abolished 10th July 1906.
ST. HELENA STREET, Kings Cross Road.
Names abolished Spring Street and St. Helena Place 1906. Partly closed 1932.
ST. JAMES’S BUILDINGS, Rosoman Street
Closed by Vestry order 8th May 1890.
ST. JAMES’S COTTAGES, St. James’s Road (1853).
By 1870 nos.119-131 St. James’s Road.
ST. JAMES’S CRESCENT, Barnsbury (1847)
ST. JAMES’S PLACE
Name abolished 1864, See ST. JAMES’S WALK.
ST. JAM ES’S ROAD (1841)
After 1938 MACKENZIE ROAD.
See also under CHILLING WORTH ROAD re. St. James’s Church.
ST. JAMES’S SCHOOL, Georges Road
See GEORGE’S ROAD.
ST. JAMES’S STREET (1851)
Since 1938 CHANTRY STREET.
ST. JAMES’S STREET, Penton Street (1840)
Since 1871 WYFORD ROAD.
According to the DNB and the Dictionary of Welsh Biography (1959) John Jones (1772-1837) barrister, translator and
Welsh historian, born at Derwydd, Caernarvonshire, died ‘ in straitened circumstances at St. James’s Street, Islington
28th September 1837’. This street does not, however, appear in rate books until 1840!
ST. JAMES’S TERRACE. Caledonian Road (1855)
Since 1885 ALL SAINTS STREET.
ST, JAMES’S WALK, Clerkenwell Green, EC1
ST. James’s Place abandoned 1864. Portion Clerkenwell Green to the junction with Sekforde Street in 1937
incorporated in Sekforde Street.
In W.J.Pinks History of Clerkenwell, 1865, 2nd edition 1881, he writes ‘most of the houses standing are erections of
the last fifty years’ (viz: 1805-1815 period) and occupy the site of their venerable predecessors’.
In 1708 it was Hart Alley, in 1720 New Prison Walk as having led to the New Prison, erected towards the end of the
17th century and lasting until 1845, when the Clerkenwell House of Detention was erected and substantially altered
and enlarged later. Jack Sheppard escaped in 1724 from the New Prison. Michael Barrett and his associates blew up
part of the wall in Corporation Row in 1867 to try to rescue the Fenians, Burke and Casey, from the House of
Detention. He was hanged at the Old Bailey 26th May 1868, the last public execution in England.
Hugh Myddleton Schools are on the site of the House of Detention.
The Clerkenwell Parochial Sunday School was instituted in St. James’s Walk in 1809 ‘owing to the benevolence and
zeal of the Rev. Henry Foster’. Buildings were put up in 1828. Architect: William Lovell. A storey was added in 1858,
architect : W.P. Griffith.
ST. JOHN STREET, River Lane (1848)
After 1910 CRUDEN STREET.
ST. JOHN STREET, EC1
See also ANGEL CENTRE. Northampton Place. George Place and Arlington Place abolished 1866 and St. John Street
Road 1905. Re-numbered 1905.
Mentioned as early as 1170 as ‘ that street which goeth from the bar of Smithfield towards Yseldon’. It was first a
packhorse road but soon became much used as a highway.
Before the introduction of a uniform plan of road construction, a raised causeway paved with stones led from St.
John Street to Islington church (St. Mary’s, Upper Street). It was there in Richard Cloudesley’s time, 1517.
During the 1942-3 period a battery and breastwork are alleged by tradition to have been put up at Mount Mill,
Goswell Street road and the southern end of St. John Street. The Royalists jeered at the citizens who dug these
ramparts at the New River upper pond, Islington Pound and St. John Street and Mount Mill with a song: ‘Roundheaded
cuckolds, come dig!’
HICKS HALL was opened in 1612 being erected by Baptist Hicks, First Viscount Campden (1551-1629), Justice of the
County of Middlesex. Before then Middlesex magistrates had administered justice from The Windmill and The Castle,
two taverns in St. John Street. By 1777 it had fallen into decay and was removed in 1778 being replaced by the
SESSIONS HOUSE, Clerkenwell Green, built 1779-82.
The ‘Old Red Lion’ is supposed to have been there as early as 1415. Rebuilt 1899. It vies with The Angel Inn’ as being
where Thomas Paine (1737-1809), political author, wrote his Rights of Man. CITY UNIVERISTY see under NORTHAMPTON
SQUARE.
At 90-92 St. John Street are the showrooms of Stuart Devlin, Australian born silversmith. Many objects of
commemorative silver at the City University are his work.
The St. Peter’s or SMITHFIELD MARTYRS MEMORIAL CHURCH (architect: E.L. Blackburne) was erected 1869-1871 as a
memorial to those who suffered for their faith in the fires of Smithfield. The church was damaged in World War II
and demolished in 1956 and the parish united to be that of St. James and St. John with St. Peter, Clerkenwell Green.
The EMPRESS OF RUSSIA, 132 St. John
Street Road, formerly 1 Owen’s Row, was licensed as a music hall 1885-9. It had a music hall on its first floor
originally formed from three small rooms. The licensee was Frederick Frampton Beard.
The FINSBURY LIBRARY, 245 St. John Street was opened on March 11th, 1967 by Rt. Hon. Richard Marsh, then
Minister of Power. Its architect was Carl Ludwig Franck of Franck & Dees.
Emberton, Franck & Tardrew were appointed architects for the development of Finsbury Estate of 468 homes. It
included a 25-storey tower (Michael Cliffe House), an underground car park and the new borough library, which
would be an integral part of the housing estate; Berlin-born architect Carl Ludwig Franck (1904-1985), of Franck and
Deeks, took responsibility for the library’s design. Franck had earlier worked under celebrated architect Berthold
Lubetkin in his Tecton practice. Lubetkin had undertaken a number of commissions by Finsbury Council, including
the Finsbury Health Centre (1938), Spa Green (1946-49) and Priory Green (1947-57) estates.
Franck’s plan was on a more ambitious scale than the average branch library, with a lecture hall among various
ancillary rooms. The convex front to St John Street is like an extended version of the nearby Finsbury Health Centre
(1938), with added colour provided by glass mosaics adorning its exterior features. The spacious main library was to
feature a shallow, top-lit barrel vaulted ceiling.
The library was designed as multiuse, modern library building, to include:
• an adult and children’s book section (ground floor)
• a music and reference section (ground floor)
• an auditorium with a stage and projector room for events (ground floor)
• a student library and reading room (first floor)
• a roof garden (first floor)
• a dark room for photography (basement).
• a storage area with a capacity of 220,000 books (basement)
Opening
On Saturday 11 March 1967 Finsbury Library was officially opened by the MP Richard Marsh, then the Minster of
Power, it had cost the council £225,000 to realise the project.
For the former library see under SKINNER STREET.
The GEORGE & DRAGON, St. John Street was there under Northampton Place in the 1830’s.
The CROWN & WOOLPACK was there certainty before 1828.
V.I.U.LENIN (1870-1924) who lived at 30 Holford Square 1902-3 and at 16 Percy Circus for a brief period in 1905 used
the ‘Pindar of Wakefield’, 328 Gray’s Inn Road and also ‘The Old Red Lion’ in St. John Street.
Detective Inspector Herbert T. Fitch in a book of his reminiscences published in 1933 recalled how at the Crown &
Wool pack he was told by his superior at Scotland Yard to hide in an almost airless cupboard to overhear a meeting
of the ‘Foreign Barbers of London Association’. This title was an alias for 24 revolutionaries who were addressed by
Comrade Boroff (Lenin). The same detective- inspector disguised himself as a waiter and got hold of the minutes and
agenda of a revolutionary meeting. When the police visited the Old Red Lion to make enquiries, Lenin is alleged to
have hidden in a food lift.
George R. Sims (Dragonet’) (1847-1922), journalist, poet and dramatic author lived as a boy at 68 St. John Street
Road. Still remembered for Living London and for his poem ‘Christmas Day in the Workhouse’.
H.W. Fincham (1859-1952), Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, collector of Ex Libris, historian and writer,
notably of Canonbury House and Tower, was a partner in the firm of W.A. Fincham & Co. of 172 St. John Street.
ST. JOHN’S GATE, EC1
This Gate was the south entrance to the Priory of St. John of Jerusalem and was built by Sir Thomas Docwra in 1504
to replace an older structure. The gate was used by Elizabeth I’s Master of the Revels.
It was in 1731 acquired by Edward Cave (1691 -1754), printer and founder of the Gentleman’s Magazine; the gate
was his printing office and it appeared as a motif on the title page of the magazine. Dr. Johnson was employed here
by Cave.
In 1831 it was a watch-house and then became a tavern in 1848 kept by one Benjamin Foster who in 1851 published
a history of the Priory and Gate and in 1858 formed the Urban Club, named after ‘Sylvanus Urban’ the literary nom
de plume used in connection with the Gentleman’s Magazine’s editorship.
The Gate contains the Museum and Library of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Edward Cave and John Nichols
worked together in the Gatehouse rooms, in 1877 the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade was launched from here.
BRUNSWICK COURT 1958 (Brunswick Close), EMBERTON COURT 1958 (Brunswick Close), MALLORY BUILDINGS 1906,
MULBERRY COURT 1962 (Brunswick Close), TUNBRIDGE HOUSE 1949 (Spa Green Estate), WYCLIF COURT 1958.
ST. JOHN’S GROVE
Before 1938 ST. JOHN’S PARK (1854).
JOHN KING COURT 1976, CHURCH GARTH 1966.
ST. JOHN’S LANE, EC1
In ancient days the principal approach from the City to the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
In the early 17th century many members of the aristocracy lived here. Sir Maurice Berkeley, Standard Bearer to
Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I lived in a Clerkenwell mansion facing St. John’s Lane.
THE BAPTIST’S HEAD which up to c. 1958/63 was at 30 St. John’s Lane was originally part of a large mansion, the
residence in the early 16th century of Sir Thomas Forster, a judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
Samuel Johnson, Edward Cave, David Garrick (alleged to have made his first stage appearance), Richard Savage and
Oliver Goldsmith used this old hostelry. Unconvicted prisoners on their way from the House of Detention to Newgate
were allowed to halt there to take refreshment. Hence PASSING ALLEY, also known as Pissing Alley. EAGLE COURT.
There in 1738.
ST. JOHN’S PARK (1854)
After 1939 St JOHNS’ GROVE see also WARSAW VILLAS, by 1874 nos. 3-9 Pemberton Road.
In 1855 owned by the St. Pancras & Marylebone Freehold Land Society. At no. 15 lived from c. 1865 to 1875, James
Collinson (1825-81), Pre-Raphaelite painter and one of the original founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
From 1849 to 1850 he was engaged to Christina Rossetti. He was a fellow-student with Holman Hunt and Dante
Gabriel Rossetti at the Royal Academy schools. He was also well-known for falling asleep on all occasions.
ST. JOHN’S PARK MANSIONS, Pemberton Gardens (1899-1900)
ST. JOHN’S PATH
Before 1939 St. John’s Passage.
ST. JOHN’S PLACE
In 1849 called St. John’s Mews.
The printing offices of Messrs Gilbert & Rivington were erected here in 1845.
ST. JOHN’S ROAD, Holloway (1855)
Since 1940 ST. JOHN’S WAY.
ST. JOHN’S SQUARE, EC1
Renumbered 1905. Part cleared 1937.
The area circumscribed by the houses in the square is that of the court of the old priory. On old maps it was called St.
John’s Court described in 1708 as ‘a spacious, pleasant place, more like a square than a street’.
In the 19th century beneath no. 19 were walls of brick and stone on rubble and vaults, c. 1861 these vaults were
converted into Turkish baths.
In James II’s reign Father Corker established here ‘the Factory’, a monastic establishment, but in 1688 it was partially
razed by an angry mob. Boys threw stones and had cudgels and the Horse Guards called out shot and wounded some
of these youths.
John Wilkes (1727-1797), FRS, politician of ‘Wilkes and Liberty’, writer and historian, was born in St. John’s Square,
son of Israel Wilkes, a malt distiller, who had a coach drawn regularly by six horses. The house, on the site of Smith’s
Clock factory, was approached by a paved court with iron gates and was resorted to by ‘persons of rank, merchants,
philosophers and men of letters’.
On Clerkenwell Green Wilkes delivered his great speech on expulsion from the House of Commons.
Colonel Magniac, a celebrated maker of automata and automaton clocks lived here and had his workshops here.
Gilbert Burnet (1643-1715), Bishop of Salisbury and theological writer, lived at 44 (formerly 36) St. John’s Square.
Shops were built in 1859 on the forecourt of his once noble mansion, ‘Burnet House’. He was ‘extravagantly fond of
tobacco and of writing’. The house was later occupied by Joseph Towers (1737-99), a contributor to Biographies
Britannica, theological and political writer.
John Camden Hotten (1832-73) was born at 45 St. John’s Square, son of William . Hotten, master carpenter and
undertaker, whose business address was at no. 50.
From 1848 to 1856 John went to America but in 1856 set up a business at no. 151b Piccadilly as a bookseller and
publisher.
In 1859 he published a dictionary of slang, became better known and published more and more works.. In 1866 he
issued Algernon C. Swinburne’s Poems and Ballads and caused a sensation.
He introduced to England works by Americans like James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Bret Harte and
Artemus Ward.
His History of Signboards with Jacob Larwood as co-author has been famous since 1867.
William Pettit Griffith (1815-84), architect and archaeologist, born 7 July 1815 at St. John’s Square. He was an FRIBA
and letters were addressed from no. 9 c. 184045. He restored St. John’s Gate. See also St. James’s Walk and Iseldon
Road.
John William Griffith lived at St. John’s Square c. 1843.
The Square contains the PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.
The Docwra Family Memorial Gate is named after Sir Thomas Docwra who in 1504 built the gatehouse of St. John’s,
Clerkenwell to replace an earlier one on the site.
The SMITH GROUP OF COMPANIES started c. 1780 making clock glasses and glass shades at no. 2 St. John’s Square.
About 1937-8 clock-making was discontinued, succeeded by light engineering and non- ferrous metals stockholding.
Smith Street was by 1938 renamed Tompion Street.
The PENNYBANK GALLERY (Michael Morris) was opened September 1981 by Lord Miles of Blackfriars (Bernard Miles
of the Mermaid Theatre, Puddle Dock). Two outstanding exhibitions of several held there since 1981 have included a
July 1985 exhibition of the work of Cyril Mann who died in 1980 and ‘Hand & Mind’, an exhibition of craft woodwork
opened by Lord Gowrie.
Nos. 33 to 38 are the Clerkenwell Green Association’s WORKSHOP & CRAFTS CENTRE. See CLERKENWELL GREEN.
THE COACH & HORSES public house was on 11th April 1785 the scene of a disastrous fire which broke out in the
early morning and, in less than an hour, the house was reduced to ashes.
ST. JOHN’S VILLAS, N19 (1849-50)
Built up 1852-4. Renumbered in 1887. By 1890 were nos. 1-67 and 2-66. In the 1970’s the Sisters of Providence
opened a house at no. 17.
RAMSEY COURT 1956.
ST. JOHN’S VILLE
A small area east of the former Whittington Almshouses. Under construction in the 1850’s
ST. JOHN’S WAY
From 1855 to 1940 ST. JOHN’S ROAD.
From 1865 to 1972 stood the large building of HILLSIDE, 129 St. John’s Way which was a LCC home for over 900 men
and women standing behind a tree-lined terrace fronting the road. It opened in 1871 for the Islington Board of
Guardians to meet the needs of the Parish under the Poor Law.
Its cupola-like top and large bulk is supposed to have made it a ‘guide’ for German bombers in World War II.
Additions were made to the building in 1900, 1910 and 1929. It was taken over in 1930 by the former LCC and its
name changed from ISLINGTON INSTITUTION to HILLSIDE. In March 1954 the ‘Singing Kettle’ cafe was opened in the
grounds and in 1956 Hungarian refugees were accommodated there. The whole building, now demolished, finally
closed in August 1973.
Certain records and some of those of the former schools (St. Mary Islington Guardians’ Schools) are at the Central
Library. A large number of records are at the former GLC Record Office and History Library.
HILLSIDE PARK was opened 24 June 1978 in land off St. John’s Way behind the Caxton House Community Centre with
a festival and fete organised by Chris Cammell of Caxton House.
The CAXTON HOUSE SETTLEMENT Social Action Centre at 129 St. John’s Way, a £360,300 neighbourhood centre, was
opened by Lord Hunt in September 1976.
In 1944 it was at the Presbyterian Mission Hall, Andover Road, then at 59-61 Andover Road and in 1950 at 112
Fonthill Road. In 1976 it functioned from the basement of the United Reform Church, Junction Road.
Caxton House has also housed the North Islington Housing Rights Project.
In February 1985 Randy Klein, an Islington based artist was commissioned to provide a group of figures in enamelled
aluminium showing break-dancers and also children and elderly people performing various dances. This has
brightened the exterior of the building with the theme of the Dance.
ST. JOSEPH’S RETREAT
See HIGHGATE HILL.
ST. JUDE STREET
From 1845 to 1872 JOHN STREET, Mild-may Park.
Named after St. Jude’s Church, see MILDMAY GROVE.
ST. JUDE’S COTTAGES, King Henry’s Walk (1906)
ST. JUDE’S SCHOOLS
See KING HENRY’S WALK
ST. KATHERINE’S HOUSE, Barnsbury Road, N1 (1965)
ST. LUKE’S CLOSE (1982)
Separated section of Ironmonger Row between Mitchell Street and Old Street.
ST. LUKE’S HOUSE, Roscoe Street, EC1 (Church centre) (1981)
ST. LUKE’S ROW, Norman Street, (c.1768-9) Before 1937 CHURCH ROW.
ST. MARK’S HOSPITAL, City Road. See CITY ROAD.
ST. MARK’S MANSIONS, Tollington Park (c. 1908-9)
In 1909-10 directory, but first in the 1912 register of electors.
ST. MARKS MISSION HALL, Simmons House, Sussex Way
On the site August 1964
ST. MARKS STUDIOS (1984)
A redevelopment of the St. Mary Magdalene Community Centre, Chillingworth Road.
ST. MARKS VILLAS, Tollington Park (c. 1858-9)
By 1874 nos. 16-22 Tollington Park.
ST. MARKS VILLAS, Moray Road (1887)
ST. MARTIN OF TOURS HOUSE, Wilton Villas, New North Road
In May 1962 this Catholic centre for ‘down and outs’ opened as a rehabilitation centre with Austin Williams and his
wife as Wardens. It was news-itemed as ‘London’s first Roman Catholic hostel for down and outs’ and in 1964 and
1970 was visited by the Most. Rev. John Carmel Heenan, then Archbishop of Westminster.
The hostel was built inside the shell of the former Chapel which until 1934 was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel.
In 1970 it was visited by Group Captain Douglas Bader, legless hero of the ‘Battle of Britain’ and also by Father Mario
Borelli, famous for his work in the Naples slums. He was introduced by the Rt. Rev. Trevor Huddleston, then Bishop
of Stepney.
In 1972 Austin Williams was awarded the MBE. In the same year the Queen Mother unveiled a plaque to
commemorate her visit on May the 4th. Cardinal Heenan was there, also the late Councillor Ernie Gough, then
Mayor.
ST. MARY MAGDALENE’S COTTAGE, Holloway Road
First appears as so designated in the 1978 register of electors. It was altered and repaired according to designs by
Alfred E. Head, FRIBA in 1966 when he was Borough Architect.
ST. MARY MAGDALENE COMMUNITY HALL,
Chillingworth Road Redevelopment named, 1984. ST. MARY’S HOUSE, 14 Chillingworth Road. Entrance to Studios
1984 ST. MAR K’S STUDIOS, 16 Chillingworth Road.
ST. MARY’S GROVE (1848)
Before 1938 ST. MARY’S ROAD (q.v.)
ST. MARY’S HOUSE (1984)
Redevelopment of St. Mary Magdalene Community Hall.
ST. MARY’S HOUSE, St. Mary’s Path (1938)
ST. MARY’S PATH
Before 1937 CHURCH LANE (q.v.).
Church Cottage was there in 1735 (q.v. under Church).
Church Lane (q.v.). St. Mary’s Gardens, the ornamental gardens were laid out by F.W. Vanstone, of Much Hadham in
1959.
ROBINSON COURT 1939, SALISBURY HOUSE 1937 (q.v.), ST. MARY’S HOUSE 1938, VICTOR CAZALET HOUSE 1950.
ST. MARY’S PLACE (1850)
On the 1851 and 1861 Censuses. For the Alwyne Castle see under St. Paul’s Road. For the Canonbury Tavern see
under Canonbury Place.
ST. MARY’S ROAD (1848)
Since 1938 ST. MARY’S GROVE.
From 1882 to 1904 Charles Townley, Islington’s Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages lived at no.
3 St. Mary’s Road. He wrote music-hall songs and pantomime libretti, many of which were produced at the GRAND
THEATRE under the name of ‘Geoffrey Thorne’. He died in 1905 when living at 23 Canonbury Park South.
From 1849 until his death in 1892 at no. 10 resided the Rev. Henry Allon, DD (181292), co-pastor with Mr. Lewis
1844 to February 1852 at the Union Chapel and sole Pastor 1852 to 1892. See COMPTON TERRACE.
At no. 10 he had an extensive library with books piled on every piece of furniture and on the floor.
At no. 3 lived Sir Frank Leyden Sargent, solicitor (1871-1940), created a Knight in 1939. He had been an Islington
Councillor since 1920, an Alderman 1928-34 and Mayor 1930-1.
H.H. Asquith, Earl of Oxford & Asquith (1852-1928), Liberal Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916 had rooms in his early
days in St. Mary’s Road and was a great friend of Dr. Allon and secured the presence of Mr. Gladstone at the opening
of the Union Chapel.
Asquith’s sister Evelyn lived at 21 Douglas Road, Canonbury, being the wife of the Rev. W. Wooding, BA.
ST. MARY’S TOWER, Fortune Street, EC1 (1956/7)
ST. PAUL STREET, N1 (1835)
SHRUBBERY CLOSE 1986.
ST. PAUL’S COURT, Kingsdown Road, N19 (1959)
ST. PAUL’S BUILDINGS (Cavendish Dwellings) (1870)
Prudential Mortgage Co.
Formerly Allen Street see PO London Directory 1901.
Superseded by St. Paul’s Church Institute, etc., Galaxtix House, Dallington Street.
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH
See BALLS POND ROAD.
ST. PAUL’S MANSIONS
Built 1891 by Studds & Son, Builders of Barrett’s Grove, Stoke Newington, a firm which was there from 1878-1906.
Its trademark was a beehive and there is a stone plaque 2ft x 18″ on the front of the mansions. By 1902 nos. 194-200
Balls Pond Road.
ST. PAUL’S PLACE, Balls Pond
Named after St. Paul’s Church. See BALLS POND ROAD.
Listed 1836/7 under St. Paul’s Street in the rate books. Listed as St. Paul’s Place with effect from 1838.
By 1837-8 there were about 30 houses.
ST. PAUL’S PLACE, St. Paul’s Street (1851)
In rate books 1851-5. 1855 rate books list UNION SQUARE.
ST. PAUL’S ROAD (1840)
Formerly known as HOPPING LANE (q.v.)
‘extending from the entrance to Highbury Place to the Balls Pond turnpike.’
Undoubtedly an ancient parish road, but only as regards the carriageway, there being originally for its entire length
no footway on either side.
In 1840 only three houses. Renumbered 1860 to 1863.
A lot of subsidiary names were abolished after 1863.
E.g. nos. 122 to 152 before 1863 were nos. 1 -16 York Terrace, ‘Northampton House’ and nos. 89-109 were Highbury
Villas 1845,6-100 were St. Paul’s Terrace, 102–114 were Alpha Cottages c. 1851,166-214 were Albert Terrace
1844,122-152 were York Terrace c. 1856-9,214-222 were Alma Terrace 1854-5.
For Harecourt United Reform Church, St. Paul’s Road (Harecourt Chapel),see under HARECOURT ROAD.
‘The Builders Arms’1855,’Hen & Chickens’ 1854, ‘Alwyne Castle’ c. 1860 rebuilt 1967, ‘New Crown’ c. 1861-2.
The CORNER THEATRE, ‘Hen & Chickens’ opened in July 1986, its seats being from the Old Palace Pier Theatre,
Brighton.
BLAIR CLOSE is a housing development between 104 St. Paul’s Road and Harecourt Congregational Church (1984).
MASON BRADBEAR COURT 1956. See under Mason Bradbear for reference to ex- Alderman W. Mason Bradbear. See
also the entry for Priory Cottage, St. Paul’s Road under MASON BRADBEAR COURT. Before the late William Bradbear
came to 102 St. Paul’s Road in 1904, from 1882 to 1903 this address was the home of John Clark, former editor of
the Sporting Life.
The Rt. Rev. Guy Warman, DD (18721953), Bishop of Truro, then Manchester, was the son of Frederick Warman of
Warman’s, the estate agents. Frederick Warman, surveyor, was in 1871 living in Florence Street and in 1874 at
Marquess Grove.
Guy Warman was also a writer, lecturer and a Greek scholar.
ST. PAUL’S SHRUBBERIES
From 1947 nos. 1-11 St. Paul’s Shrubberies precedes 1-11 St. Paul’s Road in the register of electors. From c. 1940-6 it
was known as Bingham Street and from 1855 to 1939 COMPTON STREET.
Barr’s Nursery owned by Thomas Barr was therefrom 1791-1891. From 1819 to 1822 as Barr & Samuel Brookes and
from 1822 to 1832 as Brookes & Co. By 1848 owned by John Boff. Plant collectors from the Nursery went too far
countries for plants in the 1820’s;
ST. PAUL’S TERRACE (1836)
First entry as such in 1836 but some houses appear in rate books 1833-4. In 1837 there were 30 properties.
After 1863 nos. 6-100 St. Paul’s Road. For Barrs and Brookes Nurseries see BALLS POND ROAD, ST. PAUL’S
SHRUBBERIES.
ST. PAUL’S VILLAS, Balls Pond (1852)
By 1863 nos. 1 -39 St. Paul’s Road.
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
See Devonia Road.
ST. PETER’S HOUSE, Highbury New Park (1972)
ST. PETER’S HOUSE, Oakley Crescent, EC1
First so described in the 1954 register of electors.
Before then, St. Matthew’s Vicarage. See CITY ROAD.
ST. PETER’S STREET (1840)
RIVER LANE, Lower Street, is in the rate books as early as 1811.
Nos. 18 to 28 were built by Thos. Cubitt (1788-1855) from 1837 to 1841. From c. 1863 to 1870 also RIVER LANE,
Lower Street, part of DAME STREET (q.v.).
Nos. 9-65 St. Peter’s Street were before 1870 ANGELL TERRACE (q.v.) 1849-50, 71-83 were GEORGE’S TERRACE 1844-
7, 91-93 were ROSE COTTAGES 1853,79-101 were CANAL TERRACE 1847,18-92 were RIVER LANE, St. Peter’s Street
1860,1,3 and 5 were RIVER LANE, Lower Street c. 1840.
CLUSE COURT 1956. The NARROW BOAT was opened by Sir Frank Price as Chairman of the British Waterways Board
at 119 St. Peter’s Street in July 1970.
It was before then and from 1863 THE STAR public house. Canal Terrace.
ST. PETER’S TERRACE, Little Saffron Hill
Name abolished 1911/12.
ST. PETER’S TERRACE, St. Peter’s Street (1847)
By 1863 nos. 35-53 Devonshire Street.
ST. PHILIP HOUSE (Margery Estate),
Margery Street (1931)
ST. PHILIP STREET (1871)
Since 1938 ST. PHILIP’S WAY.
From 1849 to 1870 CHURCH STREET, New North Road.
ST. PHILLIP’S WAY
Name of St. Philip Street since 1938. Called a after the former St. Philip’s Church, see LINTON STREET.
ST. STEPHEN’S TERRACE, Wharf Road (1846)
By 1870 nos. 26 to 44 Wharfdale Road.
ST. THOMAS’S ROAD, N4 (1871) On the 1871 Census, not in the 1870 directory.
In the 1871 directory are only listed nos. 3 to 27 and nos. 2, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 18. Built up more between 1879 and
1881. ST. THOMAS’S CHURCH, Architect: E. Christian 1889. The Parsonage, Vestry and Hall on the south 1901.
The MOSLEM WELFARE CENTRE, 15 St. Thomas’s Road. Registered for worship 1976.
The Plimsoll Arms’ is c. 1879-60.
VAUDEVILLE COURT 1967. As its name suggests is on the site of that former well-known variety house and musichall
the FINSBURV PARK EMPIRE opened 5 September 1910 as one of the Moss Empire group of variety theatres
under Oswald (later Sir Oswald) Stoll. It was designed by Frank Matcham and cost £45,000 and seated about 2,000
people. It closed 7 May 1960.
A well-known local artiste who appeared there was Florence Desmond who was born in 1905 over ‘Dawson’s’, a boot
shop in Westbourne Road and remained in Islington until 1927.
Well-known as a revue and cabaret artiste and above all as a female impersonator.
Early performers to appear at the Finsbury Park Empire included Kate Carney, Gertie Gitana and Gus Elen. George
(later Sir George) Robey was a favourite. The Sir George Robey public house at 240 Seven Sisters Road
commemorates his fame. Nellie Wallace was there in 1929 and Sophie Tucker in 1931. Joy Nichols made her London
debut there 16 May 1949. Other famous names include Alec Hurley, George Lashwood, Arthur Roberts, Hetty King,
Tommy Trinder, Max Miller, the Beverly Sisters — one could go on and on!
ST. THOMAS’S STREET (1850)
After 1909 RALEIGH STREET.
ST. VINCENT PLACE (1840)
Near Sydney Street, City Road.
In rate books 1840 to 1854.
ST. VINCENT’S ROW, nr. Sydney Street, City Road.
In rate books 1807 to 1820.
SALCOTT, Tollington Park, N4 (1970)
Salcott is 8 miles south-west of Colchester, Essex
SALISBURY BUILDINGS, Clerkenwell Green (1880) Gone 1960/3.
SALISBURY HOUSE, Highbury Corner (c. 1919)
SALISBURY HOUSE, St. Mary’s Path (1937) The Marchioness of Salisbury introduced members of the Church Lane
(now St. Mary’s Path Development Scheme, Islington & Finsbury Housing Association) of which she was President.
HRH the Duke of Kent performed the opening of Salisbury House and the Church Lane Development Scheme in
January 1937.
SALISBURY ROAD
In 1860 directory.
This entry included Whittington Villas. By 1888 part of Vorley Road (from c. 1859-66 called Alma Road), Whittington
Grove, Salisbury Cottages, Whittington Villas and Salisbury Road were named Salisbury Road throughout.
Between Salisbury and Macdonald roads was the original Lazarette Field.
See under HIGHGATE HILL re the Whittington Stone.
SALISBURY TERRACE Great William Street (1845)
By 1866 nos. 223-271 Copenhagen Street.
SALISBURY WALK (Girdlestone Estate), N19 (1976/7)
SALLY PLACE, Baker’s Row, EC1
Formerly Caroline Place before 1936. On the 1841 Census.
Henry Carey (1690-1743) musician, dramatist and poet. Best-known for the immortal ‘Sally in Our Alley’. Lived in
Great Warner Street, Coldbath Fields, after 1877 Warner Street. Composed many musical pieces for Sadler’s Wells.
With only one halfpenny in his pocket sunk into despondency and ‘put an end to his life by a cord’ 4th October 1743.
Illegitimate son of the Marquis of Halifax
SALTDEAN, 2 Regina Road, N4 (1978)
Saltdean is in East Sussex, Newhaven rural district.
SALTERTON ROAD
From 1860 to 1913 GLOUCESTER ROAD.
Name chosen by the LCC. Axminster Road is not far away. Budleigh Salterton and Woodbury Salterton are in Devon.
Salterton is 3 miles east of Topsham, Devon.
ST. PADARN’S WELSH CHURCH was there from c. 1912 and functioned from April 1910 being originally described as
the North London Welsh Church Mission, Hornsey Road.
Since 1982 it has been the St. Joseph & St. Padarn London Centre of the Society of St. Pius X which uses the
traditional Latin Tridentine Mass. Here met English supporters of Archbishop Lefebvre.
The SALTERTON MUSIC CENTRE (Leader: W. Schers) which has a -fine youth orchestra and teaches music to young
people aged 5 to 21 meets at the Grafton School, Eburne Road. It was founded by its blind leader and President Miss
Amelia Perceval, MBE in 1958 and taught hundreds of young Islingtonians to play musical instruments as the
‘Salterton Music & Youth Society’.
BENNET COURT, Axminster Road 1950.
SAMFORD HOUSE, Charlotte Terrace (1937)
Improved later by the GLC.
SAMUEL LEWIS BUILDINGS, Liverpool Road, N1 (1910)
By a bequest of Mr. Samuel Lewis ‘the well- known moneylender’ who left £500,000 for the erection of dwellings for
poor people, were created 150 three-roomed and 150 two- roomed tenements at a moderate rent for poor people.
There were five blocks and one for widows only occupying 2 1/2 acres. Each block was separated by a 46 ft.
roadway. There was accommodation for 1,522 people in 322 tenements and over 80 sheds for cycles and
perambulators.
The Buildings were opened 6th April 1910 by Cllr. H.J. Clarke, JP, Mayor of Islington. The architect was C. Joseph of C.
Joseph & Smithen, Queen Street, Cheapside. From 1982-4 the SamueI Lewis Trust, the owners, have embarked on an
extensive programme of re-roofing and renovation.
ISANDERS HOUSE, Great Percy Street (1951)
Acquired 1953.
SANDERS WAY, Elthorne Road, N19 (1976)
SANS BUILDINGS, Upper Street (1821)
By 1860 nos. 227-230 Upper Street.
SANS WALK
Before 1893 Short’s Buildings and Dagg’s Yard c.1750.
The family name of Sans is associated with this area. Sergeant Sans was in the 39th Regiment (Finsbury Rifles Corps).
Edward Sans was in 1893 the oldest Vestryman in the Finsbury Vestry.
SAPPERTON COURT (Stafford Cripps Estate), Gee Street, EC1 (1953)
SARAH TANKEL HOUSE, Highbury Grove (1971)
See under Highbury Grove for origin of name.
SARK HOUSE (Douglas Estate), Marquess Road (1959)
Named after the Island of Sark.
SAXONBURY COURT (Hilldrop Estate),
Camden Road (1960)
SCARBA WALK (Marquess Estate) (1974/6)
Scarba is an island. Jura, Inner Hebrides, with a large deer-forest.
SCHOLEFIELD ROAD, N19 (1881)
On 23 October 1937 Cllr. G.B. Naish, JP, LCC, Mayor of Islington, opened the Miriam Price Coleman Day Nursery and
Sunlight Clinic named after Cllr. Mrs. M.P. Coleman, then Chairman of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.
Architect: E.C.P. Monson, FRIBA, FSI.
SCOTSWOOD STREET
Before 1893 NEWCASTLE STREET (c.1800)
SCOTT HOUSE, Caledonian Road (1965)
Renamed after modernisation. Formerly Scott Buildings, 1907. LCC’s Caledonian Estate.
SCOTT HOUSE (Sherbourne Estate), Sherborne Street (1980)
SCOTTS PLACE, Lower Road (1804-5)
By 1866 nos. 198-216 Essex Road.
The great water-colourist Thomas Girtin (1775-1802) resided at no. 11 Scotts Place from 1800 to the spring of 1802.
He married the daughter of Phineas Borrett who lived there from 1801-1818 and was a goldsmith and jeweller of 5
Staining Lane, Wood Street. His son was a surgeon, Thomas Calvert Girtin, who died in October 1874 and was from
1852 to 1860 at 48 Canonbury Square, an admirer of Samuel Phelps and ‘a warm lover of the drama’.
SEAFORTH CRESCENT, Aberdeen Park (1982)
Architects: Darbourne & Darke.
SEARLE PLACE, Evershot Road, N4 (1980)
SEBASTIAN STREET, EC1
Before 1935 Upper Charles Street (1814)
Named after Lewis Sebastian, a former Master of the Skinners Company and until 1901, Chairman of the Governors
of the Northampton Polytechnic. Four of the 21 Governors were of the Skinners Co. on whose ground, the
Polytechnic, now the City University, was built.
SEBBONS BUILDINGS (c. 1790?)
Certainly there in 1806.
Named after the Sebbons, a well-known Islington family. The ‘Angel & Crown’ public house at the corner of
Barnsbury Lane, 235 Upper Street, was kept in 1751 by a Mr. Walter Sebbon who died aged 93 in 1786. Of this family
was a Mrs. Sebbon who died in February 1759, the mother of 22 children. Daniel Sebbon died 31 May 1810 aged 83
and Anne Sebbon 20 August 1818 aged 74. Walter and James Sebbon were in 1738 Stewards of St. Mary’s Parish
Church.
SEBBON STREET (1838)
See also SABLE STREET.
Named after the Sebbon family. See Sebbons Buildings.
CANONBURY COURT 1948, TYNDALE MANSIONS 1926 (Upper Street), WAKELIN HOUSE 1935, see also under
Wakelin.
SEDGLEY HOUSE, Wray Crescent (1951)
Sedgley is near Wolverhampton, Staffs.
SEKFORDE STREET, EC1 (1835-40) Built on part of the Sekforde or Woodbridge Estate.
Named after Thomas Sekforde one of the Masters of the Court of Requests and Surveyor of the Court of Wards &
Liveries in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, eminent as a lawyer and patron of literature. Encouraged Christopher
Saxton in his great Atlas of the Counties of England (1589). Sekforde died in 1588 and founded the Sekforde Hospital
and Almshouses, Woodbridge, Suffolk and was buried in a chapel near Woodbridge church. The family was in
existence at the time of Edward III, The last male heir Henry died 29 January 1638.
Before 1937 the portion between Clerkenwell Green and the junction with St. James’s Walk was part of St. James’s
Walk.
The ‘Sekforde Arms’ public house was there in 1855.
In 1816 the former private Finsbury Savings Bank was in a large house at the north-east corner of Jerusalem Passage
but moved to Sekforde Street in 1840 and a City branch opened later in Cheapside.
John Alfred Groom (1845-1919) founder of John Groom’s Crippleage was born in Finsbury and lived most of his life at
no. 8 Sekforde Street. It is now known as John Groom’s Association for the Disabled (1866).
SELDEN WALK (Andover Estate), N7 (1980) John Selden (1584-1654) English jurist and author was active in drawing
up the Petition of Right for 1628. Best remembered for his Table Talk (1689).
SELKIRK HOUSE (Bemerton Estate), Bemerton Street (1962)
Selkirk, royal and municipal burgh and county town of Sekirkshire, Scotland.
SENATE HOUSE, The, 13 Canonbury Lane
See CANONBURY LANE.
SERMON LANE (1829)
Near Glebe land which in the 18th century was near the old parsonage house of Islington, Frederick Place, see under
FREDERICKS PLACE.
Hence ‘Sermon’ Lane! Since 1910 MANTELL STREET, Finsbury.
SEVEN SISTERS ROAD
The name originated in the 18th century, the precise date being undetermined. Said to have derived from seven elm
trees in a circle with a walnut-tree in the centre at Page Green, Tottenham. This derivation is mentioned in H.G.
Oldfield and R.R. Dyson’s ‘History of Tottenham’ 1790. It had come into common use by 1831 to 1833 when the
Seven Sisters Road was built. By 1840 the trees were about 500 years old and decaying. The road was begun in 1831
and opened for public use in 1833 and ran from Gloucester Gate, Regent’s Park to High Road Tottenham, opposite
Page Green. Parkway is now the Regent’s Park end!
During the 19th century there were two ‘plantings’ of seven trees by local families. The first, February 1852, by
seven daughters of Mr. J. McRae of Tottenham. The second in March 1886 by the seven daughters of Frederick
Hibbert, a butcher of High Road, Tottenham. In February 1928 there was a supplementary planting by the Hibbert
sisters to replace two of the wych elms, one of which had been blown down in a gale. Only five sisters turned up.
One was kept away by illness and the other had died. The last, Julia Hibbert, died in 1955.
In December 1955 a further replanting of Lombardy poplars took place by seven Tottenham sisters whose mother’s
name was Basten. This was televised. Another version of the legend says that the seven trees were planted by seven
sisters. One was a cripple and this tree grew to be deformed! Another that they were on the spot where a martyr
was burnt!
Nos.137-153 were before 1874 and from 1855 nos.1-9 Albert Villas, Seven Sisters Road. By 1873 the road was ‘built
upon throughout and it was re-numbered alternatively and subsidiary names abolished’.
G.H.Chirgwin (The ‘White-Eyed Kaffir’) (1854-1922) lived from 1888-1894 at 141 Seven Sisters Road. Music hall
comedian and singer famous for ‘My Fiddle is my Sweetheart’, ‘The Blind Boy’ and ‘Je-hos-ophat’! His voice could
range from bass-baritone to high falsetto.
He appeared at the Holloway Empire and was in 1912 in the garden party scene of the Royal Command performance
at the Palace Theatre. Commemorated by the name Chirgwin Court, sheltered housing in Seven Sisters Road.
Subsidiary names in Seven Sisters Road abolished by 1874 were Frederick Place, Torquay Terrace, Bellevue Villas
(later Terrace), Carington Place, Richmond Villas, Medina Place, Medina Cottages, Clarence Terrace, Stein Terrace
and Finsbury Park Terrace.
SEVEN SISTERS ROAD STATION
On the Great Northern Railway in the early 1860s, the only stopping place between Hornsey and Holloway was
SEVEN SISTERS ROAD station. In the summer of 1866 there were only 16 up and 18 down trains daily. In none of
these were there smoking carriages and the only City station was Farringdon Street.
A couple of wooden platforms were erected and Seven Sisters Road Station opened 1st July 1861.1n 1869 the
extension to Moorgate Station was effected. By August 1869 it had changed its name to Finsbury Park Station (GNR)
see also STATION PLACE.
The HORNSEY WOOD TAVERN (or Hornsey Wood House) was once in Hornsey Wood, itself part of a larger forest or
park, Hornsey Park, property of the Bishops of London. The original tavern stood south of the present Finsbury Park
lake. It was superseded by a modern building in the 19th century and this demolished in 1866. The present one is at
376 Seven Sisters Road. The grounds of the former tavern was famous for duelling and pigeon shooting.
Part of the grounds were used to create FINSBURY PARK. In October 1858 the Vestry of Islington had petitioned the
Metropolitan Board of Works to purchase the land and the MBW had been keen on this project ever since 1856. I n
1861, the then Ministry of Health for Islington urged its necessity for the health of the poor deprived of open space.
Thomas Slingsby Duncombe, MP for Finsbury from 1834-1861, and Sir Samuel Morton Peto were prominent in
championing the cause for this open space and in 1869 it was finally opened. It was in some ways a compensation
prize for north Londoners who had been promised a large open space in Highbury to be called Albert Park after the
Prince Consort, but this never materialised and the land was given over to building development instead! Finsbury
Park is in Haringey, being only for a small degree in Islington.
The ‘Sir George Robey’ was chosen as the new name of the former Clarence Hotel, 240 Seven Sisters Road which was
there in 1860. Sir George was a favourite at the Finsbury Park Empire.
The ‘Eaglet’ public house, corner of Hornsey Road, was so-called in 1855, the licensee being Henry Grimsdell who the
year before was at the same address as a beer retailer. It has gone down in local history for a night of 29th
September 1917, when a 50 kilo German bomb fell wrecking the ground floor and basement, killing four and injuring
38 people.
Near the ‘Eaglet’ part of Seven Sisters Road were the extensive nurseries of Cornelius Crastin. The elder Cornelius
came to Islington from Holland in 1817 bringing with him only his elder son Cornelius born the year before and his
wife Catherine. The nursery was on the site of Enkel Street and Hertslet Road. Cornelius died aged 67 on 10th
January 1949 and his tomb is still to be seen (No. E8) in the churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene, Holloway Road. His
son was the patentee of a lamp advertised in the Holloway Press 20th November 1886.
See ENKEL STREET.
The ‘MEDINA’ was originally the ‘Medina Tavern’, Medina Cottages in 1866. The Bedford Arms’ was in 1863 at No.1
Medina Place.
Violet Essex (d.31st January 1941 as Mrs. Charles Tucker in the USA) was the daughter of ex-Alderman John Essex
and his wife Rosa who, a Councillor for 15 years, died in September 1938. Violet and her sister were well-known
actresses. Violet appeared in ‘Chu Chin Chow’ at ‘Her Majesty’s Theatre’ with Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton during the
First World War. The family lived at no.7 Seven Sisters Road.
Lumb Stocks (1812-1892), line engraver, see under RICHMOND VILLAS.
The RAINBOW THEATRE, 232-236 Seven Sister Road was so-called on 26th December 1970. This former venue of
rock ‘n roll closed in 1982 but re-opened in 1985. It opened 29th September 1930 as the ASTORIA, Finsbury Park.
Architect: T.R. Somerford, ARIBA pp E.A. Stone, FSI and Partners. It was opened by Alderman W.E. Manchester, JP,
Mayor, with a fanfare of trumpets from the Life Guards. There were 4000 luxury seats and a green and gold fountain
with goldfish in the foyer and a make-believe Spanish village surrounding the auditorium. The interior decorator was
Marc Henri.
Besides Ronald Colman and Ann Harding in the film Condemned there was a stage show with Teddy Brown and his
xylophone, Bobbie Comber, Fred Kitchen, Hershel Henlere, the Mirthful Music Master, Clarkson Rose, a corps de
ballet, dancing girls and a huge orchestra.
By the early 1960s it had become, until, December 1970 the ODEON. Louis Armstrong, Adam Faith, Ray Charles,
Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and other ‘greats’ appeared but the greatest sensation was THE
BEATLES!
ARGYLE COURT 1929-30, CHIRGWIN COURT 1975-6, MEDINA COURT 1956.
SEWARD STREET (1778)
The name Seward Street Cottages was abolished in 1883.
Before the 19th century was a huge mound of earth levelled in the 18th century.
MOUNTMILL, remembered by a cul-de-sac, MOUNT MILLS.
A chapel was built here in Henry VIII’s time on the site of a windmill. Here was alleged to have been a battery and
breastwork put up by the Parliamentarians in the Civil War for the defence of the City against a Royalist attack c.
1642-3. Over 1300 were buried at ‘Mountmill Pit’ at the time of the Great Plague. Pest Field, Mount Mill was a
Plague Pit levelled in Defoe’s time to make a physick garden on the north side of Seward Street.
Edward Seward, dyer, built a large house at Mount Mills in 1777. Dye House, corner of Goswell Road at 162 Goswell
Road. John Henry Nobbs, dyers, were in these premises until 1929. Edward Seward built Seward Street in 1778.
These premises were renumbered and Seward Street Cottages abolished as a name in 1883.
St. Bartholomew’s Burial Ground, south side of Seward Street was c.1885-90 converted to industrial purposes. The
Leopard Public House, Seward Street was there in 1833.
SEWELL HOUSE (Mayville Estate), Matthias Road, N16 (1959)
Ann Sewell (1820-1878) is best-known for her classic, beloved by children. Black Beauty: the autobiography of a
horse first published in 1877. Many of the Mayville Estate flats are named after writers, e.g. Bronte, Conrad, Skelton
and Webster Houses.
SEXTON HOUSE, Brecknock Road (1939)
Sexton Blake was the detective hero of the ‘Union Jack Library’ series of the 1920’sand 1930’s.
SEYMOUR CLOSE, St. James’s Walk, EC1
Before 1936 Seymour Place. On 1841 Census. See AYLESBURY STREET for origin.
SEYMOUR PLACE, Liverpool Road (1829)
Last in the 1904 Islington directory, but in the 1929 List of Streets. On 1841 Census.
SEYMOUR PLACE, Holloway
In rate books 1845 to 1855.
SHADWELL ROAD (c.1870)
Part of it from 1870-5 was CORNWALLIS ROAD.
In 1874 it was decided ‘to rename the line of thoroughfare now known as Shad well Road and Cornwallis Road
Shadwell Road throughout’.
Since 1855 CORNWALLIS ROAD.
SHAFTESBURY HOUSE, Roscoe Street, EC1 (1978)
SHAFTESBURY ROAD (c.1865-6)
In 1881-2 it was renamed Shaftesbury Road throughout incorporating Ashley Villas, Shaftesbury Terrace, St.
Leonard’s Villas and Shaftesbury Road.
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885) was the champion of the Ragged School movement and
of the poor and oppressed. ‘Eros’, Piccadilly Circus is the Shaftesbury memorial fountain.
SHAFTESBURY VILLAS (c. 1866)
After 1886 nos. 22 to 28 HORNSEY RISE.
SHAKESPEARE TERRACE
In 1860 nos. 5, 6 and 9, Wedmore House and St. John’s Church. By 1887 nos. 557-561 Holloway Road and the St.
John’s Branch of the North Islington Dispensary.
St. John’s Church. By 1887 nos. 557-561 Holloway Road and the St. John’s Branch of the North Islington Dispensary.
SHALFORD COURT 17 Charlton Place (1981)
Shalford is in Essex,4’/a miles north west of Braintree.
SHARP’S ALLEY, Cow Cross
Was there in 1738.
Still in the 1855 directory. Not in the 1912 street list.
SHARWOOD HOUSE, (Weston Rise Estate),
Weston Rise, EC1 (1968)
SHAW COURT, Alexander Road
Nos. 1-18 (1952). Nos. 19-26 (1965).
SHEARLING WAY (Shearling Way Estate) (1979)
Reminiscent of the sheep-pens of the former Metropolitan Cattle Market. See CALEDONIAN ROAD.
SHEEN GROVE
From 1846-1890 Richmond Grove, Richmond Road.
Last in the 1965 register of electors, nos. 4 and 6 only left.
SHELBURNE ROAD
From 1860 – 3 BENJAMIN ROAD. 1863 – 75 CLIFTON ROAD.
SHELBURNE ROAD SCHOOL was from 1901 to August 1910 St. Barnabas’s School, Harvist Road. It then commenced
22 August 1910 at Shelburne Road being officially opened December 1910 by Cyril Cobb, then Vice-Chairman of the
LCC. In 1958 it became a Girls’ School and the boy pupils were moved to Barnsbury.
In 1981 the Upper School was the Benwell Road annexe of Highbury Fields School and the Lower School the Annette
Road annexe.
SHELLEY COURT, Hanley Road (1958)
SHENE STREET, Bath Street
Before 1937 RICHMOND STREET (c. 1740). Last in the 1970 register of electors.
SHEPHERD HOUSE, York Way (1968)
George Sidney Shepherd (c. 1800-1860) younger brother of Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (see BATCHELOR STREET),
lived from 1831 -4 at 20 St. Pauls Terrace, Camden Town. In 1833 at the Society of British Artists he exhibited a
water-colour ‘The Pottery at Belle Isle’. Reminiscent of the shepherds and sheep-pens of the former Metropolitan
Cattle Market, see Caledonian Road.
SHEPHERDESS WALK (Hackney)
Marks the site of the ‘Shepherd & Shepherdess’ ale house and tea garden, pre-1745. On the site of the EAGLE
TAVERN, demolished c. 1825. Then an Eagle Tavern & Grecian Theatre was built by Thomas Rouse on the site c.
1825). John ‘Brush’ Wood, father of Marie Lloyd was employed as a waiter at the Grecian and got Marie her first job
there as a waitress when she was fifteen years of age for fifteen shillings a week.
SHEPPERTON COTTAGES, New North Road (1830)
By 1874 nos. 40-102 Shepperton Road.
SHEPPERTON PLACE before (1827-8)
In 1847 included Elcom Terrace. Also before 1866 Shepperton Place East which after 1866 became 204-226 New
North Road.
Shepperton Place West, after 1866 nos. 287-317 New North Road.
SHEPPERTON ROAD
Different parts date from various periods 1827,1838 to 1840.
E.g. nos. 79-89 were before 1874 Rosemary Cottages 1838,13-21 were before 1874, 50-54 Shepperton Cottages,
1830, 137-139 were before 1874, 13 and 14 Shepperton Street 1827/8.
113-163 before 1872,1-27 Shepperton Street, and 1 -11 before 1874 Shepperton Terrace.
For the history of the ‘Rosemary Branch’, now a public house at no. 2 Shepperton Road, see ROSEMARY STREET.
The ‘Rotherfield Arms’ 38 Shepperton Road was originally ‘The Rotherfield’ 32 Shepperton Cottages.
Former church of ST. BARTHOLOMEW, architect: E. Clare 1861-2. Bombed 1940, demolished c. 1970.
Shepperton Road Board School opened 1879 by the School Board for London. Closed 1957 and replaced by
ROTHERFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL.
SHEPPERTON STREET (1821)
By 1872 absorbed in SHEPPERTON ROAD.
Shepperton is 2 miles east of Chertsey, Middlesex.
SHEPPERTON TERRACE (1845)
By 1874 nos. 1-11 Shepperton Road.
This is entered in local directories 1860-71 under Shepperton Cottages.
SHEPPEY WALK (Marquess Estate) (1976)
SHERBORNE COTTAGES, Sherborne Street (1847)
SHERBORNE MEWS, Sherborne Street
No. 2 only left, 1968. Disappeared by 1969.
SHERBORNE STREET (1826)
Sherborne is in Dorset. SCOTT HOUSE 1980.

 

Sheringham Road, N7

SHERSTON COURT, Attneave Street, WC1 (1977)
Sherston is on the River Avon, 5 1/2miles south west of Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
SHILLINGFORD STREET
Before 1937 Spencer Street (1838) Little Cross Street (1819).
Shillingford Street after 1938. There until 1981-2.
Shillingford (also Shellingford) is in Berkshire, 2Vi miles south east of Faringdon.
SHIMPLING PLACE, Upper Tollington Park
In the 1878 directory.
By 1882 nos. 15-55 Upper Tollington Park. .
Shimpling is 3 miles north east of Diss, Norfolk. There is also Shimpling or Shimplingthorne, 4 miles north west of
Lavenham, West Sussex.
SHIPLAKE COURT, Leconfield Road (1961)
Shiplake, Oxon, is 4 miles north east of Reading.
SHIRE HOUSE, Lamb’s Passage, EC1 (1982)
SHIRLEY STREET
Before 1937 GRACE STREET.
This dated from 1847. Nos. 5-16 were the first occupied. Gone by 1974.
SHORT’S BUILDINGS (and Dagg’s Yard) (c.1749-50)
After 1893 SANS WALK.
SHREVEPORT HOUSE (New Orleans Estate)
New Orleans Walk (1972)
Shreveport is in north west Louisiana on the west bank of the Red River. Named after Henry Miller Shreve who
cleared the Great Raft logjam and made the Red River navigable. By 1870 it was chartered as a city. Its State Fair and
‘Holiday in Dixie’ festivals are well-known.
SHREWESBURY COURT, Whitecross Street. EC1.
There in 1723.
In 1628 a mansion, the property of the Earl of Shrewsbury, was used by a small Jesuit colony. The court may have
been built by Edward Shrewsbury, carpenter and citizen of London who owned some property in the district. Before
she became Queen, Mary Tudor in 1553 visited Clerkenwell Priory attended by, among others, the Countess of
Shrewsbury.
SHRUBBERY CLOSE, St Paul Street, N1 (1986)
SHUNA WALK (Marquess Estate) (1975)
Shuna is an island in the Inner Hebrides, Argyllshire.
SICKERT COURT (Sickert/Essex Road Estate), Marquess Road (1948)
See MARQUESS ROAD.
SIDNEY GROVE (also SYDNEY GROVE) (1808-9))
Near Sidney Street, Goswell Road.
No.27 only left in 1971, gone by 1972.
SIDNEY PLACE (also SYDNEY PLACE) (1807)
Renamed PHILIP PLACE 1936.
SIDNEY STREET, Goswell Road (1807) Formerly in Islington, see 1860-1 ratebook. Since 1936 WAKLEY STREET, EC1.
SIDNEY STREET (1847)
By 1894 DENNIS STREET. Since 1946 York Way Court is on the site.
SIDNEY VILLAS, Canonbury (1850)
By 1866 nos.2 and 4 Canonbury Park North.
SILVER COURT, Junction Road.
First so-named 1978.
SIMMONS HOUSE, Sussex Way (1966)
Site of nos.101 -7 Sussex Way and of the former St. Marks Mission Hall and 253 Hornsey Road.
SIMMONS HOUSE EXTENSION 1980.
Ernest James Simmons died in December 1963 and was a member of Islington Council 1949 to 1959 representing
Tollington ward. He was paramount in his work for the Housing Committee, but also served on those for public
libraries, baths and wash-houses, public health, works, finance and establishment at various periods. He took a keen
interest in old age pensioner clubs and in the Co-operative Party and was celebrated for his ‘good deeds’ to friends
and neighbours when he retired.
SINCLAIR COURT, Highbury New Park (1953)
Upton Beall Sinclair (1878-1968), American novelist, was a socialist and an attacker of capitalist systems. His novels,
King Coat (1917) and The Jungle (1906) are examples. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1943 for Dragon’s Teeth.
SINGER STREET
Before 1890 WOOD STREET 1825. Partly in Shoreditch, Hackney. The Singer Manufacturing Company had its Head
Office in Foster Lane and by 1900 in St. Paul’s Churchyard. In May 1930 management moved to the corner of City
Road and Tabernacle Street.
SIX ACRES ESTATE (1969) See STONEFIELD.
SKE.G.NESS HOUSE (Boston Estate), Sutterton Street (1972)
Skegness is on the Lincolnshire coast, famous for its bracing air and holiday camp!
SKELTON HOUSE (Mayville Estate),
Matthias Road, N16 (1954)
John Skelton (1460-1629) English poet was also a tutor to the Duke of York, afterwards Henry VIII, and wrote satirical
poetry, some of it attacking the influence of Cardinal Wolsey.
SKINNER STREET (1824-c.1828)
In an 1824 rate book. Built on part of an estate of about eight acres belonging to the Skinner’s Company in olden
days called Clerk’s Close but the land was in 1754 conveyed to the Skinner’s Co. who from then until 1817 leased it to
the New River Co. whose main pipes passed under the ground.
It was then advertised for building and leased to a Mr. J. Whiskin, after whom Whiskin Street is named, for a term
expiring in 1888.
The SHEEP SKIN MARKET, Brunswick Close, ceased 4th October 1815.
The former Finsbury Public Library in Skinner Street, demolished in 1967, is of some historic importance.
It had its foundation stone laid 8th March 1890 by William Masterman of the Worshipful Company of Skinners of
which he was then Master. It was officially opened 10th October 1890 by Sir Henry Isaacs, Lord Mayor of London. A
guard of honour from the 21st Middlesex Volunteers was on duty outside the library.
Finsbury was the first library in the UK to allow, in 1894, readers to have open access to the books on the shelves
and not to have to use the library “Indicator” system,
Capt. Penton (1851-1929), MP for Central Finsbury and Major Robert Holborn who died in 1892 were two of the
chief donors of books and money to Finsbury libraries.
Major Holborn was born in Islington and from c.1840-52 lived at Northampton Lodge, Canonbury Square. In 1849 he
married Sarah, the daughter of Daniel Curling of Canonbury House.
His Librarian was H.J. Fincham (1859-1952), the historian of Canonbury House and Tower and also librarian to the
order of St. John of Jerusalem. Major Holborn was a well- known wholesale tea merchant in the Mincing Lane and
also a keen book collector. He lived at 11 Highbury Crescent and died 17th March 1892.
Capt. Penton presented to the Libraries an alabaster model of the Taj Mahal which used to be outside the Reading
Room of the former Skinner Street library and is still held by the library in St. John Street.
The Chief Librarian of Finsbury libraries who later became Chief Librarian of Islington was James Duff Brown (1862-
1914) scholar, bibliographer, author of the Subject Classification of Books, musicologist and pioneer of open access
in libraries. He died in the evening of the 26th February 1914 at 15 Canonbury Park South where he had lived since
1907 and was buried 3rd March 1914 at the Great Northern Cemetery, New Southgate.
In 1917 at the corner of Goode Street was the Peoples’ Picture Playhouse from the 1920s, by 1940 The Globe
Cinema.
William Godwin (1756-1836) lived in Skinner Street 1807-1822.
He married Mary Wollstonecraft and their daughter Mary married Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet.
CHARLES TOWNSEND HOUSE 1967, JOSEPH TROTTER CLOSE 1968, MICHAEL CLIFFE HOUSE 1968, PATRICK COMAN
HOUSE 1968.
SKINNERS PLACE, Holloway Road (c.1806)
By 1866 nos.131 -145 Holloway Road.
SKOMER WALK (Marquess Estate) (1974-7)
Skomer Island is off the west coast of Pembrokeshire at the south side of St. Bride’s Bay.
SLADES PLACE (1823)
Last in the 1927 register of electors, when only no.1 left. Demolished.
SMITH STREET (1803-7)
After 1935 re-named TOMPION STREET.
Named Smith Street after J. Smith & Sons, clock manufactures. See under St. John’s Square.
SMITH’S BUILDINGS, Islington High Street (pre-1841)
Were near to no.12 Rufford’s Buildings, High Street.
In the rate books until 1855, but not in the 1852-60 Islington local directories. On Census returns for 1841,1861,1871
and 1881.
Its 23 houses were in 1875 declared then to be insanitary.
In 1841 were 29 tenements and a stable, the owner being the Executor of James Smith. In 1806 the occupier of one
tenement on the site was James Smith.
SOLDENE COURT (Ringcross Estate),
Georges Road (1927) Modernised in 1973.
Named after Emily Soldene, died 8th April 1912, aged 72.
SOLEY MEWS, Great Percy Street (1839)
SOLEY TERRACE, Amwell Street Pentonville (1828-9)
In Islington directories up to 1860. After 1862 became part of Great Percy Street.
SOMERSET PLACE, Elder Walk (1844)
On the 1861 and 1871 censuses.
SONDERBURG ROAD
In the 1870 Directory. Included Victoria Villas. Sonderburg is the German version of Sunderborg, a Danish seaport on
the island of Als with a medieval church and palace, textile mills, machine shops, oil refinery works and a margarine
factory.
From 1964 to 1920 it was under Prussian control, hence the German version of the name.
The Sir Harold Harmsworth Memorial Hospital RSPCA was opened in 1968 by Princess Alexandra.
With a £130,000 bequest from the newspaper magnate, Mr. S.C. White of the Clinics Division from 1926 to 1928
when he died, worked devotedly for its inauguration and in September 1969 Mr. John Hobhouse, then the Chairman
of the RSPCA unveiled a plaque recording the RSOCA’s Council’s recognition of his service to animal welfare.
SONNING STREET (c.1866)
Before 1894 ALFRED STREET.
Disappeared by 1973 because of the Westbourne/Sheringham Road re-development.
Sonning is 3miles north east of Reading, Berks.
SOPHIA CLOSE (Caledonian Estate), Roman Way (1976)
SOTHEBY ROAD
Its first entry in local directories is for 1892 with nos.3 to 9, 13, 8, 14 and 16.
Named after the celebrated firm of auctioneers Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge of Wellington Street, Strand.
The Revd W.E.H. Sotheby (Father Sotheby) was from 1881-1892 the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Shepherdess Walk. MEWS
LODGE 1983-4.
SOUTERS FIELDS, Newington Green (1839)
SOUTH GROVE WEST
After 1877 MILDMAY GROVE.
SOUTH PLACE, EC2
Finsbury Pavement
Laid out in the 1790s along the south side of Moorfields. There in 1799. Only nos.1 to 4, the rest in the City of
London.
SOUTH PLACE, Tibberton Square, Frog Lane (1827)
By 1874 nos.50 to 65 Popham Road.
SOUTH STREET, New North Road (1848)
Re-named BASIRE STREET 1938.
SOUTH STREET, EC2
After 1939 DOMINION STREET.
SOUTH STREET, Caledonian Road (1828)
After 1888 SOUTHERN STREET.
SOUTHALL VILLAS, Park Place, Highbury (c.1884)
By 1889 34-40 Conewood Street, Highbury.
SOUTHAMPTON STREET
After 1938 CALSHOT STREET. See also Upper Southampton Street.
See Calshot Street re J. Grimaldi.
SOUTHAMPTON TERRACE (1828)
By 1891 nos.88, 96, 104, 108 and 110 Southampton Street. After 1938 CALSHOT STREET.
SOUTHCOTE ROAD, Tufnell Park Road (1884)
SOUTHDOWN (Market Estate), North Road (1968)
Reminiscent of the sheep pens and lambs of the former Metropolitan Cattle Market, 1855-1939. See under
Caledonian Road,
SOUTHGATE COURT, Downham Road (1957)
SOUTHGATE PLACE, Balls Pond (1850)
In the Motts Lane, Wall Street area.
In rate books 1850-1855.
SOUTHGATE PLACE, Shepperton Street (1846)
In ratebooks 1846-1855)
SOUTHGATE ROAD
Nos.1 to 225 were in 1914 in Hackney. The East side is now Hackney, West side, Islington.
For Rosemary Branch see under ROSEMARY GARDENS, Rosemary Street.
The former BROTHERHOOD CHURCH at the corner of Balmes Road, ‘Texryte House’ is on the site, was still there in
1939. Its architect was J. Tarring and its Trust Deed and Minute Book of Council Meetings 1926-1939 is at the
Islington Central library.
The local collection also has the Minute book from 1896-1899 of the NORTH LONDON SOCIALIST CLUB.
When the Chapel had sittings for 1000 it was used in May 1907 for the Fifth Congress of the Russian Social
Democratic Party with 336 delegates including LENIN, Josef Stalin (under the alias of Koba Ivanovitch), Rosa
Luxembourg, Leon Trotsky, Martov and Maxim Gorky or Gorki.
The Rev. Bruce Wallace was Minister 1892-1902, then until 1907 the Rev. A. Baker.
By 1910 it had come under the ministry of a Congregationalist minister who had resigned his living and became a
cashier on the accountancy staff of the former Daily Herald, the Rev. F.R. Swann. The church was then celebrated for
its pacifist meetings, recalled by the late Bertrand Russell (Lord Russell) in his autobiography.
SOUTHSIDE, Carleton Road (1963)
SOUTHWELL HOUSE (Mayville Estate). Boleyn Road,N16 (1950)
Robert Southwell (cl1561-1595), English Jesuit martyr and poet, best-remembered now for ‘The Burning Babe’, a
poem of 1595, was hanged at Tyburn after three years imprisonment and torture.
SOUTHWOOD COURT, Wynatt Street, EC1 (1955)
Designed by Searle & Searle.
Viscount Southwood (Julius Salter Elias) (1873-1946) of Fernhurst, the newspaper magnate was the directing force
behind the old Daily Herald and a former managing director of Odhams Press. His father lived in 1897 at 26 Lonsdale
Square.
Julius left school aged 13 in 1886. He was a paying pupil at St. Thomas Charterhouse, Goswell Road and rose from
being a newspaper boy to become a Press Lord. He was very admiring of the late Rt. Hon. C.W. Bowerman.
See BATTLE DEAN ROAD.
SPA COTTAGES, Lloyds Row, EC1 (1852)
SPA FIELDS, Rosoman Place
Spa Fields features in Charles Dickens’ The Old Curiosity Shop. Spa Fields Playground was opened 19th December
1936 by Lord Snell, CBE, LLD, JP then the Chairman of the LCC.
SPAFIELD STREET
Before September 1936 part of Yardley Street (1818).
SPA GARDENS (1842)
SPA GREEN
Spa Green was opened 31st July 1895 as a public open space by W.J. Wetenhall of the LCC.
SPA GREEN ESTATE
Designed by Berthold Lubetkin. Architects: Lubetkin & Skinner (formerly Tecton). Foundation stone laid by the Rt.
Hon. Aneurin Bevan, MP 26th July 1946. Completion ceremony by the Rt. Hon. Herbert Morrison, MP 29th April
1949.
SPA GREEN
See also under ROSEBERY AVENUE, SPA, GREEN GARDENS and WILMINGTON SQUARE.
The Pantheon, Spa Fields, where now is the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Exmouth Market was Ducking Pond
House, an inn with ponds used for duck-hunting at its rear.
Rosoman of Sadler’s Wells acquired it and let it out to a Mr. William Craven who in 1770 laid out a garden and, in
place of the old wayside inn, built ‘The Pantheon’, a tea-house which had an organ and a garden with fruit- trees,
shrubs and pleasant walks but this closed in 1776. The building was opened for Church of England services as the
Northampton Chapel and in 1779 as the SPA FIELDS CHAPEL (Countess of Huntingdon’s Connection) pulled down in
1886.
The Rev. Josiah Henson (1787-1881) the original ‘Uncle Tom’ preached there on 3rd February 1881. The Church of
the Holy Redeemer replaced the Chapel. See EXMOUTH MARKET.
King George III was hooted at by a riotous mob on the 9th October, 1795 while passing through Spa Fields.
ISLINGTON SPA’s medicinal spring had ceased to flow by 1894.
About 1684 on the site of the Spa Green Estate was discovered a medicinal spring opposite to Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
It acquired celebrity as the Islington Spa or New Tunbridge Wells and had a coffee house, dancing room, arbours and
walks. Here came to drink the waters in 1733 the Princesses Amelia and Caroline, daughters of George II. In 1777 a
bowling green was added. By the building of Thomas Street in 1810 the gardens were curtailed and by 1840 built
over entirely.
The WAR MEMORIAL. Designer: Thomas Rudge, sculptor. Panels cast by A.B. Burton of Thames Ditton.
Opened 15th September 1921 by Alderman Lt. Col. Sir Henry Barton, JP, Mayor. See further description under
ROSEBERY AVENUE.
SPARSHOLT ROAD (1874)
Including in 1882 Arundel and Egremont Terraces.
The HANLEY HALL 1902 was extensively damaged in the Second World War. Bombs fell in the Sparshott and Ormond
Road areas 1940-1.
The Hall was re-dedicated by the Bishop of Stepney and re-opened in September 1952 by the late Cllr. A.J. Rogers,
then Mayor. CROUCH HALL COURT 1949.
SPEEDYS LANE
Re-named BALLS POND PLACE 1st March 1872.
SPELLBROOK WALK (Popham Estate) (1979)
Spellbrook is 1m. north of Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
SPENCER PLACE
Name abolished 1937 and numbered 193 and 195 Goswell Road.
SPENCER ROAD, Hornsey (1866)
After 1938 CAEDMON ROAD.
SPENCER STREET, EC1 (1807-9)
Named after Spencer Perceval, see Percival Street.
John Williams (1796-1839) missionary to the South Seas lived at no.25 c.1810. On his last missionary journey he was
eaten by natives.
SPENCER STREET, Canonbury (1838)
After 1937 SHILLINGFORD STREET.
SPENCER TERRACE, Lower Road (1840)
By 1866 nos.279-325 Essex Road.
SPENCER VILLAS, Canonbury Park West (1848)
By 1870 nos.27 to 33 Grange Road, also by 1866 in Lower Road, nos.327 to 331 Essex Road.
SPRIGGS HOUSE, Canonbury Road (1954)
Councillor Terence Patrick Spriggs represented Highbury ward from 1953-55 and served on the Baths & Washhouses,
Public Health, Safety and Establishment Committees.
SPRING GARDENS. Highbury New Park (1970)
SPRING HOUSE (Margery Estate)
Margery Street,WC1 (1931)
SPRING STREET (1829)
Since 1938 B.RAES STREET.
STAFFORD CRIPPS ESTATE, Old Street
12 storey high blocks designed by the late Joseph Emberton. The opening ceremony was performed by Lady Isobel
Cripps 14th November 1953.
STANLEY COHEN HOUSE, Golden Lane, EC1 (1963-4)
Stanley Edward Cohen, CBE.FRSA (b.1897) has represented Farringdon, Without, North Side, on the Common Council
of the City of London since 1951 and is a Ward Deputy. He was in 1955 responsible for creating the City’s smokeless
zone and in 1971 for control of sulphur emissions and was in 1965 Chief Commoner. Served in the HAC in the 1914-
18 War, twice wounded in action. A Liveryman of the Worshipful Co, of Stationers and Newspaper Makers.
STANLEY LODGE, Canonbury Park South (1954)
Named after William Stanley Grice, the architect of these police flatlets, who died in 1953.
STANLEY ROAD (1854)
Since 1938 BURDER ROAD.
STANLEY TERRACE, Kingsdown Road
On the 1881 Census.
Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) is most celebrated for his search for the missionary and explorer David
Livingstone in 1781 and for founding in 1879 the Congo Free State, see also PRAH ROAD.
STANMORE COTTAGES, Stanmore Street (1852)
STANMORE STREET, Caledonian Road (1849)
STANTON LODGE, Northampton Park (1912)
STAPLETON HALL ROAD
Nos. 1-3 only in Islington, rest in Haringey.
In the 1840s at Stroud Green was still an old farm called Stapleton Hall originally built in 1609 by Sir Thomas
Stapleton of Grey’s Court, Oxfordshire. It became afterwards a public house and used to have on it the inscription.
‘Ye are welcome all To Stapleton Hall.’ It was afterwards altered and divided into two houses by a Mr. William Lucas
in the 1840s.
STROUD GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH dated from 1878, the adjoining Victoria Hall was built 1926.
STAPLETON PARADE, Mount Pleasant Road (1900)
STAR & GARTER YARD
See NORTH DOWN STREET.
STARLINER COURT, Liverpool Road (1962)
The ‘Starliners’ Concert Party and Variety Company was started in November 1956. Its founder was the late
Councillor George Barnard who died aged 73 in 1974 (see under PULTENEY STREET). Its Treasurer from 1958 was
Cllr. George Gardner who died suddenly aged only 44 in that year.
Until 1970 the Company was well-known for its pantomimes, concerts, entertainments for old age pensioners and
charity performances.
STATION HOUSE, Grosvenor Avenue
See GROSVENOR AVENUE (Canonbury Railway Station House).
STATION PARADE, Hornsey Road (1890-1)
STATION PLACE, N4
Before 1940 STATION ROAD.
Station Road appears on the 1889 register of electors as Station Road. Finsbury Park and was on the 1881 Census.
Station Road Board School was there in 1885.
Finsbury Park Station (Northern Line, Underground) was opened 14 February 1904.
Finsbury Park Station (Great Northern), British Rail, Eastern Region, opened 1 July 1891 and was known as ‘Seven
Sisters Road’ until 1869. It first became a junction in 1867 when the Edgware, Highgate and London railway opened
as a single line. The branch to Barnet followed.
The old cast-iron bridge over Stroud Green Road was replaced by a steel one in August 1898.
On the 23 July 1985 the then GLC Leader, Ken Livingstone, opened a new scheme costing over a million pounds to
improve Finsbury Park Station and its precinct, including a landscaped pedestrian area. The Mayors of Islington,
Hackney and Haringey, local members of Parliament, councillors and representatives of British Rail and London
Transport witnessed this opening.
STAVELEY CLOSE, Camden Road (1973)
Staveley, an urban district of north east Derbyshire, a local coal mining centre, 4 miles north east of Chesterfield.
STAVORDALE ROAD
On the 1881 Census.
Stavordale Priory, originally an Augustinian canon of the 13th century is in south east Somerset, 2 1/2miles north
east of Wincanton.
STEADMAN COURT, Old Street (St. Luke’s Estate) EC1 (1976)
STEADMAN STREET
Before 1936 HENRY STREET (1820).
Only no. 9 standing in 1966, gone after then.
William Charles Steadman (b.1851) was from 1906-11 MP for Central Finsbury and a former Secretary to the
Parliamentary Committee of the TUC.
STEEPLE WALK (Popham Estate) N.1 (1978)
STELFOX HOUSE (Weston Rise Estate), Weston Rise (1968)
William Stelfox of Penton Place died in 1827 and left money to the Pentonville Charity School formerly in Hermes
Street then in 1811 in Collier Street.
STEPHANIE COURT, Conewood Street (1962)
STEPHENSON TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1948)
By 1863 nos. 259-349 Caledonian Road and the North London Railway station.
George Stephenson (1781-1848) inventor and pioneer of railways and his son Robert (1803-59) were certainly the
origin of the terrace’s name as being to the Victorians symbolic of railways.
STEWARDS or STEWART’S COURT, Clerkenwell Green.
On a map of 1738. 1781 as Stuart’s Place, later Stewart’s Place. Gone 1946/9.
STEYMANS ROW, Holloway (1804-5)
By 1866 nos. 11-49 Holloway Road.
Shown in the 1805 rate books and in the one for 1804, but undesignated, the occupant
of one property being Elizabeth Steyman, also in a rate book for 1804 for Islington High Street.
STEYMANS ROW, Islington High Street (c.1804-5)
By the 1850s near no. 19 Ruffords Buildings.
STOCK ORCHARD CRESCENT, Caledonian Road (1853)
1971 to 1977 flats and houses were erected designed by the late Professor Sir Basil Spence.
STOCK ORCHARD STREET (1869/70) In the 1870 directory only nos. 2 to 8 given.
STOCK ORCHARD TERRACE (1864-5)
By 1882 nos. 480-494 Caledonian Road.
STOCK ORCHARD VILLAS (1854)
By 1882 nos. 496-556 Caledonian Road.
The name STOCK O RCH AR D was suggested like Biddestone, Widdenham and Quemerford by the 1st Baron
Islington, see under BIDDESTONE ROAD.
STOCKS LODGE, Wilton Square (1962)
Mary Danvers Stocks, Baroness Stocks (1891 – 1975) was a well-known broadcaster, social reformer, economist and
a member of many Government committees.
STONEFIELD (Six Acres Estate), Pooles Park, N4 (1969)
One of the fields in the Six Acres Estate which are Brookfield, Churnfield, Dellafield, Fallowfield, Fyfield, Honeyfield,
Millfield, Monksfield and Stonefield. This Estate provided 356 family flats and maisonettes in seven four-storeyed
flocks, 1-six and 1-twelve storeyed block.
STONEFIELD COTTAGES, Cloudesley Square (1851)
STONEFIELD MANSIONS, Cloudesley Square (1906)
STONEFIELD STREET (1825)
1832 rate books show only nos, 1-10,11-25, with nos. 18-21 as newly occupied.
See under CLOUDESLEY SQUARE for an explanation of Stonefield.
‘Stony Field (Fourteen Acres) devised by Richard You alias Cloudesley.’
STONEFIELD TERRACE (1827)
By 1892 nos. 100 to 116 Richmond Road (since 1938 Avenue).
STONEST STREET (1879)
STORY STREET (1852)
Up to 1855 written as Storey Street. Piles of builders’ rubbish prevented paving for some years. By 1855 nos. 1 was
‘Storey Cottage’ occupied by a builder but by 1863 a grocer and then called ‘Story Cottage’.
No. 28 only was left in 1970 and gone by 1971.
In the 1853 period there was a John Storey who kept a well-known coffee house and was a cheesemonger at 19 and
20 Edward Terrace, Caledonian Road.
STOWLANGTOFT ROAD
In rate books 1855-60, but crossed out in 1860. Was part of HIGHBURY HILL.
Stowlangtoft is in West Suffolk.
STRADBROKE ROAD (c.1876/7)
In 1877 only nos. 1 to 13 and 2 to 14.
The name was chosen by Henry Rydon, the estate developer see RYDON STREET.
Stradbroke is in Suffolk, 5 1/2 miles east of Eye.
STRAHAN PLACE, Balls Pond Road (1823)
By 1864 nos. 193 to 231 Balls Pond Road.
Like Glebe Terrace and Dorset (later Dove Road), Orchard (later Wakeham) and Henshall Streets by Philip Dorset
Goepel.
STRAHAN TERRACE, Liverpool Road (1811)
Also spelt Strachan.
By 1870 nos. 59 to 81 Liverpool Road. The Rev. George Strahan, MA,DD and Prebendary of Rochester (1808) was
Vicar of Islington from 1773 to 1824 and died the 18 May, 1824. aged 80. He lived in the old parsonage house of
Islington behind Frederick’s Place, Upper Street and near the site of the Old Pied Bull inn yard. Dr. Strahan was a
friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson, the ‘Great Cham’ and was at his house for a few days during his last illness in 1784. Dr.
Johnson bequeathed part of his library to the Islington cleric and Johnson’s Prayers and Meditations were ‘published
from his manuscripts’ by the Rev. Strahan, Mrs. Strahan, his Widow died aged 81 in 1831.
Dr. Johnson used to call at the old Vicarage and occasionally provided his friend with a Sermon I
STRANG HOUSE (Cumming Estate), Windsor Street, N1 (1950) Named after Dr. John Martin Strang, CBE (1888-1970)
former Vice-President of the Boys’ Brigade 1947-67 and a member of its Governing Body 1929 to 1967 and 1950 to
1964 a Governor of the Royal College of Science and Technology.
STRANRAER WAY (Bemerton Estate) N1 (1972)
Stranraer, Wigtonshire, Scotland, is well known for its steamer communication with Larne, Ireland.
STROUD GREEN
There are references to this as ‘land at Strode near Hyghebury’ in 1407 becoming Stroude Green by 1546. ‘Strod’
meant marshy land overgrown with brushwood. It was a long piece of common land in the manor of Highbury.
References to Stroud Green appear in an 1807 rate book and it is plainly marked on a 1735 map of Islington.
About 1771 the local residents formed a Society or Club which used to meet at the Queen’s Arms Tavern, Newgate
Street, annually in summer time and styled themselves the ‘Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Corporation’ of Stroud
Green. They used to regale themselves with cakes and ale like a country fair on the greensward.
By 1811 it had been written that this practice ‘has for many years been discontinued’.
STROUD GREEN ROAD
Before 1874 STROUD GREEN LANE. See also PARADE, The.
A boundary road, the north east side being in Haringey.
Stroud Green Lane appears in a street directory for 1870 but not in the one for 1866.
It consisted in 1870 of the ‘Stroud Green Nursery’ and Athelstane Villas. No. 1 of the latter was the ‘Earl of Essex’
public house. Athelstane Terrace, York Villas, Vale Cottage, Rothbury Villas, Park House (a ladies’ College) and
Osborne Villas. Later, and certainly from 1871 -4, were added York Terrace, Woodstock Terrace, Brownswood Villas
and Osborne Terrace. By 1882 Tower House Terrace was added but by 1884 the whole renumbered as one road.
The road was bombed in September 1940, April 1941 and March 1944. Owing to a bomb incident of 17 April 1941,
nos. 87 to 101 appear in the register of electors in 1949. The Earl of Essex public house there in 1870 was damaged
by a bomb in 1944 which fell on nearby Lennox Road.
BANK HOUSE 1975.
STROUD GREEN STATION. Because of more building, a station in Stapleton Hall Road, between Finsbury Park and
Crouch End, was opened 11 April 1881 and was called ‘Stroud Green’ (GNR) but closed in 1954.
The Finsbury Park Mission to Poor Children started at 33 Stroud Green Road in 1910 and closed by 1954.
STROUDS VALE (1845)
Included Thomas Cottages, Almina Place, Clifton Place, Minerva Place, West Street and Devonshire Cottages in 1855.
On Census reports 1851 to 1871 but not 1881.
STUART MILL HOUSE, Killick Street (1950)
Designed by the late Joseph Emberton.
John Stuart Mill (1806-73), philosopher and economist, see RODNEY STREET.
STUBBS HOUSE, Corbyn Street (1964)
Named after George Stubbs (1724-1806), animal painter, engraver and painter in enamel. One of England’s bestknown
painters of animals, particularly horses.
STUDD STREET (1828)
In the 1854 directory yet not in the 1852 or 1853 Islington directories. Since as early as 1909 the GPO Stores have
been here.
STURMER WAY (Stock Orchard Estate), N7 (1977)
Like Russett Crescent named after an apple variety, Stock Orchard Estate!
SUDELEY STREET, City Road (1839)
Completed in 1842.
Like Alfred Street (later Elia Street) and Vincent Terrace laid out by James Rhodes, using three builders, William
Beckingham, John Wilson and Thomas Allen.
Sudeley Manor and Sudeley Castle are in Gloucestershire.
Charles Hanbury (b. 1777) until 1858 MP for Tewkesbury was Chairman of the Commission to judge designs for the
Houses of Parliament, 1835 and in 1838 was created Baron Sudeley of Toddington, County Gloucester.
The ‘Prince of Wales’ public house dates from c. 1861-2.
SUFFOLK HOUSE, Dartmouth Park Hill, NW5 (1899)
SUFFOLK PLACE (1822)
By 1866 nos. 218 to 244 Essex Road.
SUFFOLK PLACE, St. Matthias Road (1846) By 1910 Elton Place.
SUFFOLK STREET (1787-8)
After 1908 Hayward’s Place (built 1835) (q.v.)
SUFFOLK STREET (1844)
By 1878 nos. 24 to 42 and James Childs, dairyman and nos.21 -47A Ecclesbourne Road.
SUMMERFIELD ROAD, Summerfield Villas (1869-1906)
After then, BOOTHBY ROAD.
SUN ROW, Greenmans Lane (c. 1783)
Mentioned in the Window Tax book as early as 1783.
By 1937/8 only nos. 3 and 4 left. A photograph of 1913 in the Central Library shows that the name was by then
something of a misnomer!
SUN STREET, Finsbury Square (1869)
Formerly DEAN STREET (1790-1). CROWN STREET (there in 1799). Nos. 1,2and 3 only Finsbury, remainder in Hackney
(Shoreditch).
Very overcrowded and a slum area in the 1880’s.
SUNNYSIDE ROAD (c. 1867/7)
MANCHESTER MANSIONS 1921, rehabilitated 1980. REDWOOD COURT 1968, GWYN-JONES HOUSE (q.v.) 1974.
SURR STREET (c. 1906)
In 1903/4 a Miss Surr donated a horse trough and drinking fountain.
In 1972 the name ‘Surr Street’ was given to a new access way running northwards off North Road, N7, adjacent to
the site of the former Halse Street.
SUSAN LAWRENCE HOSTEL, 170 Kings Cross Road
From about 1916 to 1938 this was the Mary Curzon Hostel for Women.
Named after Arabella Susan Lawrence (1871-1947), politician, 1930 Chairman of the Labour Party and from 1929 to
1931 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health.
SUSSEX CLOSE, Sussex Way , N19 (1952)
SUSSEX PLACE, Halton Street (1834)
After 1866 nos. 72 to 84 Halton Street.
SUSSEX PLACE, Rotherfield Street (1847)
By 1863 nos. 12 to 68 Rotherfield Street.
SUSSEX ROAD
See SUSSEX WAY.
SUSSEX TERRACE, York Place, Offord Road (1845)
By 1877 nos. 27-49 St, Clement’s Street, Offord Road.
SUSSEX TERRACE, Barnsbury Park
See YORK PLACE.
SUSSEX WAY
Before 1938 SUSSEX ROAD (c. 1859/60) and COTTENHAM ROAD (1851).
St. Mark’s Church of England Primary School (ILEA) was opened on 8 March, 1955 by Councillor Mrs. Jessie M,
Barnes, then Mayor of Islington and blessed by the then Bishop of Stepney, the Rev. Joost de Blank, its foundation
stone having been laid in 1954 by Cllr. Charles F. Rogers, Mayor.
The original St. Mark’s National & Infant Schools for the ‘teaching of the poor’ in Tollington Park were opened in
October 1863 but were razed to the ground by German bombs on 26 September 1940.
The Schools started in 1836 as an infant school in two rooms with a teacher’s house, being enlarged in 1846.
Duncombe Primary School was originally the Cottenham Road School (London School Board) and was there as early
as 1877. Reorganised for Junior Mixed and Infants in 1965.
The Welsh Chapel (Welsh Presbyterian Church), also shown as a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, was there as
early as 1875/6.
The Kingsdown Christian Mission nos. 209 to 211, 1958 to 1960 then moved to Hackney.
Frederick Greenwood (1830-1909), journalist and publicist, first Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette and of The Queen had
a brother James Greenwood, a voluminous storywriter and journalist who in the 1860’s and 70’s lived at 75 Sussex
Road.
The HOMESTEAD (Home for the Retired), 1971.
CHAPEL WAY. In 1922 the name of nos. 3 to 5 Sussex Road.
In 1921 no. 1 was Chapel House. LANDSEER COURT 1956, SIMMONS HOUSE 1966 (extension 1980 see Simmons
House), SUSSEX CLOSE 1952.
SUTHERLAND TERRACE (1845-6) Known as Sutherland Terrace from 1847.
Before then (1845-6) Caledonian Road (East Side). By 1863 nos. 10 to 52 Caledonian Road.
SUTHERLAND VILLAS (1852)
By 1886 renumbered nos. 65 to 75 Hanley Road.
In 1852 nos, 1 to 6 and ‘Mansion House’, a ladies’ school kept by a Mrs. Poole.
In 1848 Charles Dickens’ sister, Fanny Burnett, died at 4 Sutherland Villas (by 1886 71 Hanley Road).
SUTTERTON STREET (1855)
Sutterton is in Lincolnshire, 6 miles south west of Boston.
The BOSTON ESTATE: Fulbeck House, Kelby House and Skegness House 1972,
SUTTON BUILDINGS, Northburgh Street (1889)
Gone by 1947/9.
SUTTON DWELLINGS
See UPPER STREET.
SUTTON GARDENS, Bemerton Street (1838)
In the 1836 rate books as Suttons Field, by 1837 Suttons Gardens. On the 1861 Census as Sutton Gardens, Upper
Gifford Street. Not in the 1863 directory.
SUTTON PLACE, Holloway Road (c. 1859/60)
By 1887 nos. 1 to 9 HIGHGATE HILL.
SUTTON VILLAS, Camden Road
On the 1851 Census. By 1866 nos. 281 to 283 Camden Road.
SUTTONS FIELD (1836) See SUTTON GARDENS.
SUTTONS GARDENS (1837) See SUTTON GARDENS.
SUTTON’S HOSPITAL, Charterhouse
See CHARTERHOUSE STREET.
SWAINSON HOUSE (Harvist Estate), Hornsey Road (1971)
SWAN ALLEY
At the time of the Great Plague of 1666 had 43 houses, later Sutton Street. Little Sutton Street was formerly Little
Swan Alley and there was a market, Swan Alley Market. See also GREAT SUTTON STREET.
SWAN HOUSE, Oakley Road, N1. (1966)
SWAN YARD, Holloway (1841)
Was the yard of the ‘Old White Swan”, 13 Holloway Road. Now recording studios.
SWAN YARD, Islington High Street.
This is near the White Swan, 19 Islington High Street, near the former Grand Theatre. See Islington High Street. It
was originally the Old Swan, no. 2 Steyman’s Row, High Street. By 1843 19 Ruffords Buildings, ‘White Swan’.
A rough area in the 1840’s and slummy in the 1870’s.
SWANLEY STREET
Charles Street, Upper Street was renamed Swanley Street by the Vestry in January 1898, However no Charles Street
is in any directories in the Upper Street area. Swanley Street was there until 1907.
SWEET HOME ROAD, Archway In rate books 1851-4.
However in 1854 Directory as Oxney Villas.
SYBIL THORNDIKE HOUSE Douglas Estate (1954) See CLEPHANE ROAD.
SYCAMORE COURT, Pemberton Gardens (1967)
SYCAMORE STREET, Old Street
From c. 1790 to 1825 SYCAMORE ROW. By 1826 SYCAMORE STREET.
SYDDALL VILLAS (1853)
After 1871 59 Tollington Park.
SYDALL TERRACE
After 1871 nos. 63 to 73 Tollington Park.
SYLVAN COURT, Fortnam Road, N19 (1966)
SYLVANA COTTAGES, Hornsey Road (1854)
By 1874 Sylvan Cottages, Hornsey Rise.
SYLVANUS ROW, Hornsey Road (1831)
By 1886 nos. 472 to 498 Hornsey Road.
Entered under Hornsey Rise in pre- 1886 directories.
SYMON TERRACE
Incorporated in Grenville Road, North 1887/8.
By 1889 nos. 2 to 8 and 9 to 25 Grenville Road.

T
TABERNACLE ROW (1790)
After 1884 LEONARD STREET, EC2.
Partly in Hackney, only nos. 1 to 67 and 2 to 76 in Finsbury. Partly Windmill Street and Tabernacle Walk and Place.
Before 1884 Windmill Street, originally Windmill Hill, there in 1730. Partial renumbering in 1908.
Named after a tabernacle set up c. 1741 for George Whitefield (1714-70), the evangelist and Calvinistic Methodist
leader and fiery preacher. This large shed became the headquarters of his London work and was replaced by a brick
building opened 10 June 1753 and known as the Moorfields Tabernacle. His son John was baptised publicly at this
tabernacle and buried at Gloucester in 1744.
Three large mills once existed on the slopes of a huge rubbish tip. There may have been a Windmill Tavern there in
Elizabethan times. A disputable tradition alle.g.es that on the site of the rubbish tip were 1,000 cartloads of human
bones deposited there from St. Paul’s Charnel House 1549.
TABERNACLE WALK (1788)
TABLEY ROAD (1881)
The Tabley was John Byrne Leicester Warren, poet, last Baron de Tabley.
His grandfather was Sir John Fleming Leicester, MP, first Baron de Tabley of Tabley House, Cheshire, and art collector
and patron. The house is near Knutsford, Cheshire.
TAIT HOUSE, Ward Road (1972)
On the site of nos. 219-233 Junction Road.
Archibald Campbell Tait, Archbishop (1811 -82) consecrated as Bishop of London
22 November 1856, in December of that year inaugurated the Islington Church Extension Society.
TALBOT HOUSE (Harvist Estate), Hornsey Road (1970)
Named after William Talbot Hindley, MA, from 1887 to 1892 Vicar of St. Barnabas, Harvist Road and of St. John’s,
Upper Holloway, 1918-23.
TALBOT ROAD (1854)
By 1870 nos. 66 to 118 BRECKNOCK ROAD.
TALLINGDON LANE
See DUVAL’S LANE.
TAMWORTH (Market Estate), North Road (1967/8)
Tamworth is 61/4 miles south east of Lichfield, Staffs. Tamworth is a breed of pig, particularly in the Midlands.
Reminiscent of the former Metropolitan Cattle Market. See under Caledonian Road.
TAMWORTH TERRACE, Hornsey Road (1855)
By 1866 nos. 365 to 371 Hornsey Road.
TAMWORTH VILLAS, Hornsey Road (1855)
By 1886 nos. 375 to 377 Hornsey Road.
TANNINGTON TERRACE, Gillespie Road (Gillespie Estate) (1971)
Tannington is in East Suffolk,4 miles north west of Framlingham.
TANSLEY CLOSE, Hilldrop Lane (1978) Tansley is 1 56 miles east of Matlock, Derbyshire.
TARANSAY WALK, Marquess Estate (1975)
Taransay is in the Western Isles, Scotland, one mile off the west coast of Harris.
TARLAND LODGE, Beresford Road (1964) First so described in the 1964 register of electors. Tarland Lodge is in
Aberdeenshire, one mile north-east of Tarland.
TAVERNER SQUARE (Addington Estate) Originally known as ADDINGTON MANSIONS (1922). Modernisation of the
latter be.g.an in 1977. Named after a Louis Taverner who owned land in the Highbury Grange area c. 1848.
TAVISTOCK TERRACE, Upper Holloway, N19 (1841-2)
TAWNEY COURT, Aubert Park (1960)
Built on the site of the former Highbury Hill Baptist Church, demolished 1958. See HIGHBURY HILL.
Professor Richard Tawney, FBA (18801962) was from 1949 Professor Emeritus of Economic History at the University
of London and a member of the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Educational Association 1905-47, of the
University Grants Committee 1943-8 and a member of many Government committees and the author of many
important works in economics and economic history.
TAYLOR’S YARD
In rate books 1817-8 between York Court and Oddy’s Row (Islington Green).
TAYPORT CLOSE (Bemerton Estate) (1972)
Tayport or Ferryport-on-Craig, 3Vi miles south-east of Dundee by water, on the south side of the entrance to the
Firth of Tay. Fife.
TEALBY COURT, Georges Road (Ringcross Estate) (1927)
Modernised 1974. See under HOLLINGSWORTH STREET.
TEANBY’S BUILDINGS, Old Street (1811)
Named after the owner William Teanby.
Renumbered 1894.
In the 1939 register of electors and the 1945 List of Streets, but not the register of electors for the same year.
TELFER HOUSE (Kings Square Estate), EC1 (1965)
TELFER STREET, Lever Street
First so designated 1866/7.
Formerly Wood Street South 1879, but before then part of Wood Street North, 1834. Demolished, not there in 1964.
TEMPLE HOUSE, Ward Road (1962)
From 1891 to c. 1916 no. 21 Ward Road was St. George’s Church Mission House.
Temple House is named after Archbishop William Temple (1881 -1944), Archbishop of Canterbury, 1942-4, Christian
Socialist, theologian and writer.
TEMPLETON ROAD
Name approved 1871. See PLIMSOLL ROAD.
TENBY HOUSE (Harvist Estate), Hornsey Road (1971)
TENBY PLACE
In the 1855 rate book near Picton’s Yard, Upper Winchester Street.
TENSING HOUSE, Grange Grove (1954)
See GRANGE GROVE.
TERLING WALK (Popham Estate) (1973)
Terling, 6 1/2 miles north east of Chelmsford, Essex; Terling Place the seat of Lord Rayleigh.
TERRACE, The, Upper Street
Was there 1798/9′. After 1818 UPPER TERRACE.
Mrs. Agnes Flowerdew kept a boarding school at no. 1 The Terrace and published in 1803 ‘Poems on Moral and
Religious Subjects’ and a hymn for harvest time ‘Fountain of Mercy, God of Love’. Her poems fetched a second
edition in 1811.
By 1877 nos. 278 to 288 Upper Street.
TERRETT’S COURT (1804-5)
Before 1892 Terrett’s Court, afterwards TERRETT’S PLACE. But the names of the occupants are in earlier rate books c.
1755-60.
Named after James Terrett, a Churchwarden of St. Mary Islington who was a Churchwarden in 1742 and who died in
1760.
Appears as Terrett’s Place in an 1852 directory. In 1892/3 the Vestry officially renamed it Terrett’s Place.
No. 3 is a house which is usually associated with that mentioned in Chapter 36 of Charles Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit.
It is a possible venue for ‘a singular little old- fashioned house up a blind street which had two small bedrooms and a
triangular parlour.’
When Tom Pinch and his sister Ruth roamed about the streets looking for lodgings ‘. . . no doll’s house ever yielded
greater delight to its young mistress.’
TETBURY PLACE
Before 1913 GLOUCESTER CRESCENT c. 1843
Tetbury is in Gloucestershire, about 8 miles from Stroud.
THANE MANSIONS, Thane Villas (1900)
THANE VLLAS, N7 (1845-7)
It then consisted of nos. 18 to 97 Richmond Villas and Richmond Place.
In 1897 the Vestry decided to alter the name to Thane after Thane Lennox in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. See Lennox
Road.
The Regent Street Chapel was Registered 1903 by congregations meeting in Providence Chapel, Regent Street, City
Road (as Calvinistic independents). Closed 1947-52.
THANE MANSIONS 1900, WALTON HOUSE 1900.
THATCHED HOUSE ROW (1758-62) Was there in the 18th century. Mentioned in a 1780-1 rate book.
See under ESSEX ROAD re the ‘Thatched House Tavern’.
THEBERTON STREET (c.1826-7)
Completed by 1836. Laid out by Francis Edwards, a pupil of Soane, architect to the Imperial Gas Company.
In 1866 subsidiary names were abolished and the whole was renumbered. In 1938 there were only nos. 1 to 46 and 1
to 7 Theberton Street, West. In 1826 there were only two houses, by 1829 fifteen occupied.
Named after Theberton Hall, Suffolk, the seat of Thomas Milner Gibson MP (1806-84). See GIBSON SQUARE.
Submitted by a contributor (2017): During the 1970s, Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes lived at 61 Theberton Street. As at
2017 he is the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Islington. Dr Goodson-Wickes was born at the City of London
Maternity Hospital, Liverpool Road in 1945. He studies medicine in the 1960s at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical
College, Charterhouse Square during which he was a tenant at 8 Lonsdale Square. He was a former Chief Exective of
of the London Playing Fields Foundation.
THESEUS WALK (Nelson Place Estate), N1 (1972)
The legendary Greek hero Theseus found his way out of the labyrinth in which the Minotaur was kept by means of a
length of thread, taking with him Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, who fell in love with him.
THOMAS COTTAGES, Strouds Vale (1848) On the 1861 Census, but not on that for 1871.
THOMAS STREET (1910)
Later Sadler Street.
THORNHILL BRIDGE (1839)
THORNHILL COTTAGES
On the 1841 Census. By 1912 WYNFORD COTTAGES, 2 Wynford Road.
THORNHILL CRESCENT (1852/3)
THORNHILL GARDENS
See THORNHILL ROAD
THORNHILL GROVE (1845)
In the 1845 rate book as Experimental Gardens (q.v.), Thornhill Grove. However, not in the rate books again until
1850.
THORNHILL HOUSES, Thornhill Road
Built 1894-1902 by the East End Dwellings Co. Rehabilitated 1980.
THORNHILL PLACE (1832)
THORNHILL PLACE WEST (1844)
THORNHILL ROAD (1840)
Renumbered 1866 and named Thornhill Road throughout.
Prospect Cottages (1824) were by 1870 nos. 38 to 60 Thornhill Road. Devonshire Terrace (1842) was by 1870 nos. 27
to’35 Thornhill Road. Minerva Terrace (1827) was nos. 68 to 86 Thornhill Road.
The William IV public house was there in 1853. See Minerva Terrace. Albion Place (1836) was by 1870 nos. 3 to 17
Thornhill Road.
The Thornhill Gardens were acquired by Islington Vestry 1889 and were a former nursery ground over three-quarters
of an acre which had for many years been used as a nursery. James Hillman was the owner in 1848.
In 1946 Noel Thornhill, then freeholder, offered as a gift to Islington, the land ‘including the portion of Thornhill
Crescent enclosure surrounding St. Andrew’s Church.’
Cllr. J.A. Rogers in July 1952 opened the gardens followed by a Civic Service conducted by the Rev. G.A. Fellowes,
then Vicar.
George Thornhill (1811-75), then MP for Co. of Huntingdon (hence Huntingdon Street) and a High Sheriff, paid
£2,001 for Curtis’s Wharf (now the Thornhill Bridge area). The Estate passed to his son Arthur John Thornhill who
died unmarried in 1930. He was succeeded by his nephew Captain Noel Thornhill, Squire of Diddington, Hunts, who
died aged 73 in 1955. In 1970 the Estate, including Thornhill Crescent, Thornhill Square, Hemingford Road and
Richmond Avenue was still owned by the Trustees, but over a period of years before and after 1968 it was auctioned
and sold off.
THE ALBION Public House originated as a tea-house and gardens named after Thomas Albion Oldfield who kept a
dairy and owned fields in the vicinity. Cricketers played in the fields to the west of the tavern until in the summer of
1834 the Albion Club moved to Copenhagen Fields. Nursery grounds were here for a time until the land was built
over.
In 1945 a German V2 fell, killing the landlady and a barmaid.
In 1969 the pub was area winner North of the Thames and William Rushton presented a winner’s plaque and a
commemorative sketch.
In 1982, for the second year running, it was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the ‘London in Bloom’ contest.
Thornhill Road School (London School Board) opened as Thornhill Road Board School 1881. Reorganised 1972-4 for
Junior Mixed and Infants.
For a number of years Unit No. 196 T.S. Quail Sea Cadet Corps has met at the School. Over 200 guests were at a
dinner at the Alexandra National Hotel when the C.O. Alec Dymock (Commanding Officer from 1960 to 1981) retired.
One guest, Councillor Jim Evans, Mayor, had been in the Unit years ago. The Cadets have their own band which has
on occasions played at the Remembrance Day Service at Islington Green.
Nos. 45 and 45A Thornhill Road were originally Histon House, c. 1856/9, a ladies’ school, next to No. 4 Minerva Place.
THORNHILL SQUARE (1848-9) Only four houses in 1848.
See also BRIDGEMAN ROAD. The site of St. Andrew’s Church was given by George Thornhill, MP in 1852.
The design was by Francis B. Newman and John Johnson and was of Kentish rag and Bath stone, middle-pointed
style. It was consecrated in 1854. In 1873 an east window was added. Dove Bros, were the builders and it seated
1650.
Lord Blythwood erected a tablet on the south wall to his wife’s memory, (see also under RANDELLS ROAD). There
used to be from the end of the First World War to 1935 a Church House at 173 Hemingford Road.
The St. Andrew’s Mission Hall, 102 Gifford Street, was opened on 30th January 1882 by the then Lord Mayor of
London and was built by Stevens Bros, associated with the premises of Tylors, engineers. Tile Yard Road.
The hall was the centre of bazaars, youth activities, flower shows etc., and was for many years used for school meals.
In 1961 the hall was put up for sale by its Trustees and used for commercial purposes.
The WEST BRANCH LIBRARY of Islington Libraries had its foundation stone laid on 30th June 1906 by Thomas F. Bryen
(Councillor) also present including Thomas Lough, MP for West Islington, (1892-1918), Parliamentary Secretary to
the Board of Education, who was in the chair. £5000 of the £8700 cost of the building was from the fund of Dr.
Andrew Carne.g.ie. The architect was Professor Arthur Beresford Pite, MA, FRIBA (1861-1934), a cathedral
commissioner and the designer of Uganda Cathedral, Clapham Parish Church etc., and from 1900 to 1923 Professor
of Architecture, Royal College of Art, South Kensington. The builders were C. Dearing & Co. of Halliford Street, Essex
Road.
On 24th July 1907 it was officially opened by Alderman G.S. Elliott, JP, Percy Harris, then Chairman of the LCC was
present and Thomas Lough, MP, The local paper described the ceremony as a ‘humorous jumble of bans and
blessings’.
In the First World War Lord Derby’s Recruiting Scheme had an office there. In 1914 and 1915 Edith Carson, who had
performed before Queen Alexandra, gave violin recitals as ‘comforts for the troops’. By 1916 a recreation room was
used by the 21st Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.
Tommy Trinder in 1951 opened the ‘Theatre of North London Exhibition’. In 1982 the interior was completely
refurbished and in 1983 the exterior sandblasted and cleaned.
THORNHILL STREET (1826-7)
By 1871 with the former St. James’s Street, WYNFORD ROAD.
THORNHILL TERRACE, Hemingford Road (1846)
By 1863 nos.93-145 Hemingford Road.
THORNTON COURT, Hartham Road (1975)
THORPE HOUSE, Charlotte Terrace
(Barnsbury Estate) (1954)
THORPEDALE ROAD (c.1875-6)
On 16th December 1886 died at no.155
Edward Richard Woodham, a veteran of Balaclava (1854).
THREADGOLD HOUSE (Dovercourt Estate), Baxter Road (1970)
THURSTON HOUSE (Barnsbury Estate), Carne.g.ie Street (1952) Named after John Thurston (1774-1822), artist,
celebrated for his drawings and even more for his wood engravings which illustrated a large number of early 19th
century editions of poets and a notable ‘Shakespeare’ of 1814. He was also a water-colourist. He died at his house in
Holloway aged 48 and was buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s Parish Church; his wife Mary died in 1818 aged 32.
THYNNE VILLAS, Douglas Road, Canonbury (1853)
By 1874 nos.17 and 18 Douglas Road, Canonbury.
The sixth Marquess of Northampton married in 1921 Emma Thynne ,daughter of the fifth Marquess of Bath.
TIBBERTON SQUARE (1827)
This was built by Thomas Wontner who lived at no.16, described in an 1832/4 directory of London as Thos. & Joseph
Wontner, furrier and skinners, 17 Theberton Square (so spelt). In an 1843 directory of London one read of Thos.
Wontner, solicitor, 15 Skinner Street, Snow Hill. The Central Library possesses a water-colour of 1841 on which is
pencilled ‘Mr. Wontner’s house. On the gardens in front he has built a small square called Tibberton Square.’
TIBER GARDENS (1985) See also YORK WAY.
An access road linking Treaty and Copenhagen Streets.
TIBER STREET (1847)
Formerly RIVER STREET, York Road.
By 1891 Tiber Street, last in the 1949 register of electors. Then part of York Way Court.
TIGER COTTAGES, John Street
On the 1861 census. By 1974 nos.27-35 Wedmore Street.
TILEYARD ROAD
This was first so named as Tile Yard Road in 1897 as a result of a letter from the Supt. Architect of the LCC to the
Islington Vestry intimating their intention to make an Order altering Low’s Lairs or Tile Kiln Road to Tile Yard Road.
There is a Tile Yard on the 1861 census, see RANDELL TERRACE. Last occupied 1961 with only no.5 left.
TILLOCH STREET (1848)
Before 1938 CLAYTON STREET. Disappeared after 1967.
Named after Alexander Tilloch, LLD, MRIA, MGS etc., (1759-1825) proprietor and editor of the former Star evening
newspaper, founder of the Philosophical Magazine from June 1797, writer, essayist and theologian. He died at his
house in Barnsbury Street. See also under BARNSBURY STREET.
TILNEY COURT, Old Street (c.1808/9)
TILNEY GARDENS, Baxter Road, N1 (1981) Edmund Tilney (d. 1610), English Court official and writer. Master of the
Revels, was at St. John’s Gate from 1578 to 1610 and licensed plays, some of them by William Shakespeare.
TIMBER STREET
Formerly NORWAY STREET c.1811 to 1936.
Norway, with its forests, is a source of timber. Like Baltic Street associated with the timber trade.
TITTERTON TERRACE, Pulteney Street (1826-7)
On the 1841 and 1851 Censuses.
In rate books until 1854. Not in directories. Richard Titterton was the owner (according to rate books).
TIVERTON HOUSE, Pleasant Place (1902)
Re-habilitated 1977.
TODDS WALK (Andover Estate), Andover Row (1976)
Sir Charles Todd, KCMG,MA, FRS was born in Islington 6th July 1826 and died 30th January 1910 in Adelaide,
Australia. He was the grandfather of Sir William H. Bragg (18621942), the famous physicist and scientist and was
himself an Assistant Astronomer, first at Cambridge, then at Greenwich 1848 to 1855. He became Postmaster —
General of South Australia 1869 to 1905,Commonwealth Deputy PMG for the State of South Australia, 1901 to 1905.
TOFFEE PARK
See under OLD STREET.
TOLLINGTON COURT, Tollington Park N4 (1938)
TOLLINGTON PARK (1823-4) See also SYDDALL VILLAS.
In 1871 this contained Belmont Terrace, Birnam Villas, St. Mark’s Villas, Claremont, Duerdin and Fonthill Villas,
Fonthill and Park terraces, Cleasby, Albion and Syddall Villas, Syddall Terrace and Regina Villas.
After 1871 subsidiary names were abolished, e.g.., Belmont Terrace became nos.2-6, Birnam Villas 8-10,St Marks
Villas 16-22, Claremont Villas 24-36, Duerdin Villas 44-56, Fonthill Villas 60-70, Syddall Villas 59, Syddall Terrace 63-
73, Regina Villas 89101, Shimpling Place by 1882 nos.15-155 Upper Tollington Park, Harrington Grove 1848/9
became after 1894 47 to 67 and 52 to 70 CHARTER IS ROAD. Nos.96to 108 have been attributed to Gough &
Roumieu, built 183940.
TOLLINGTON COURT, PARK, PLACE, ROAD and WAY commemorate the pre Conquest district of Tollington. It was
spelt ‘Tollandune’ in the Anglo-Saxon Charters meaning the hill or pasture of Tolla. ‘Tolentone’ meant a pannage for
hogs, a place of beechwood and mast. This area and Holloway were all then part of the Great Forest of Middlesex. It
had various spellings Tolesdone, Tolyndon, Tallingdon and Tallington. At the time of the Domesday Survey Ranulf,
brother of Ralph llger, held two hides.
There was a Barton’s Farm in Tollington Lane in 1557.From 1701 to 1820 a Tollington Farm.
About 1818-1820 ‘a pretty range of villa residences were erected in the Italian style by Mr. Duerdin, with stabling
and offices attached, from the designs of Messrs. Gough and Roumieu.’ These were in 1843 inhabited by 436 people.
Examples of these Italian styled houses were nos.96, 102, 106 and 110. Alexander Dick Gough in 1845 lived at no.4.
TOLLINGTON PARK suffered bomb damage 1940-1 and in 1944. ST; MARK’S CHURCH, Tollington Park, had its
foundation stone laid by Lord Robert Grosvenor in May 1853. Its architect was A.D. Gough and the builders Dove
Bros. The Church was then part of the district chapelry of St. John’s, Upper Holloway, but it was consecrated in 1854
and in August became a parish church.
The Architect of structural alterations to the Church in 1884 was F.R. Farrow and it was renovated in 1904.
In 1887 a Mission Hall designed by W. Jacomb Gibbor in the Norman Shaw style was built near 259 Hornsey Road but
this was bomb damaged in World War II, compulsorily purchased by the Council in 1959 and demolished.
From September 1963 St. Mark’s included the parish of St. Anne’s, Pooles Park. The Church had two large three-light
windows in the 13th century Early English style in memorial glass by A.L. Moore dating from 1873 and 1874 and the
chancel window, tower clock and general restoration commemorated the church’s Jubilee in 1904. One of these
windows ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’ is dedicated to William Banks Silk and his wife who built the adjoining house,
afterwards the Vicarage.
The first Vicar, the Rev. John Lees, MA, is commemorated in a portrait, restored, by Charles Mercier.
St. Mark’s National & Infant Schools had their foundation stone laid by the Lord Mayor 7th February 1863. A new
school was opened by the Mayor in Sussex Way in 1955. See also VENN HOUSE.
The TOLLINGTON PARK SCHOOL and the MONTEM SCHOOL (see Montem) were opened in 1886 and 1901
respectively. The Montem Junior Mixed and Primary School is in Hornsey Road.
Viscountess Astor opened the TOLLINGTON PARK SCHOOL in 1930 but it was in 1940 demolished by a bomb. It was
reopened in 1949 by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester. The late Gillie Potter (‘The Sage of Hogsnorton’), comedian,
broadcaster and genealogist on 14th July 1955 cut the first sod of an extension to the school and in November 1955
Viscountess Astor laid its foundation stone. Architects: John Stillman, ARIBA and J.C. Eastwick-Field, BA, ARIBA.
A new TOLLINGTON-ISELDON County Secondary School for 1200 boys and girls was opened on 4th April, 1963 by Sir
Edward Boyle, then Minister of Education. The site in Turle Road was previously part-occupied by the old Montem
primary and Tollington Park secondary schools. Over the years the latter received several distinguished visitors such
as Dame Barbara Brooke or Robert Morley, the actor. In 1981 it amalgamated with Archway School to form the
GEORGE ORWELL SCHOOL (for explanation see under Canonbury Square). See also TURLE ROAD.
In 1866 NEW COURT CONGRE.G.ATIONAL CHURCH was obliged to leave Carey Street WC2. The residents of
Tollington Park and Stroud Green invited it to Islington, Its foundation stone was laid 11th November 1870 and the
church opened in 1871 with a seating capacity of over 1300. The church with its giant Corinthian portico, architect:
G.G. Searle, attracted the attention of the Catholic church and it was opened by Cardinal Godfrey 12th January 1960
as ST. MELLITUS, Tollington Park.
The Tollington Park Baptist Chapel originated in 1893 in Hornsey Road under Edwin Smart. It was replaced by the
Spurgeon Memorial Baptist Hall named after the Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great Victorian leader of the
Baptist movement and a fiery preacher. In 1909 the original building was in Pine Grove. In 1973 an extension was
opened, designed by K.C. White & Partners, re-named TOLLINGTON PARK BAPTIST CHAPEL in the 1970s. Architect:
Colin Mann.
Next door was the Zoar Strict Baptist Chapel c.1884, formerly at Wedmore Street. Called Zoar Baptist Chapel in 1959,
closed in 1971, then in the 1980s called Zoar Hall.
At 55 Tollington Park was from 1897 the Convent of Notre Dame, later the Convent of St. John of God. It was a
Catholic school and a social hall, since 1961 a voluntarily aided R.C. Christ the King Primary School (ILEA), Junior
Mixed and Infants.
The Tollington Park Peoples’ Mission was from 1931-41 at 91 Tollington Park. The Mission Hall, 1935, closed by 1954.
Tollington Park College was there as far back as 1852 and in 1874 was at nos.3 and 4 Turle Road (then part of
Tollington Park as a road). In 1879 it was described as Tollington Park College, 49 Tollington Park (founded by William
Brown) and became the fore-runner of Tollington Grammar School Muswell Hill.
NORTH ISLINGTON NURSERY SCHOOL (now ILEA aided) was founded 5th November 1930 by Mrs Daisy Dobbings at
110 Tollington Park (formerly 8 Duerdin Villas). She also started the first nursery school at Jubbulpore, India.
The ALBERT GOODMAN MEMORIAL HALL was in memory of Colonel Albert W. Goodman (1880-1937) Unionist MP
for North Islington 1931-7 and Colonel of the 27th London AA (Searchlight) Battalion RE (TA).
It was opened 23rd May 1956 by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester in the presence of the late Wilfred Fienburgh, then
MP for North Islington.
In the 1890s the district was full of ‘highly desirable residences.’ On 17th July 1897 took place a Grand Opening
Festival of the Tollington Recreation Ground opened by Messrs. Jones Bros, of Holloway with dancing on the lawn to
the Tollington Brass Band.
The PARK TAVERN was first so-called at no.4 Park Terrace, Tollington Park, in 1854. Before then its landlord James
Ensor had it as a beer retailer’s premises.
Thomas Frederick Seddon .a 40 years old representative of the London & Manchester Industrial Assurance Co. lived in 1911 at the former 63 Tollington Park where he poisoned Eliza Barrow, his miserly lodger, with arsenic. In spite of
declaiming with a Freemason’s Oath ‘I declare before the Great Architect of the Universe, I am innocent’ he was
hanged at Pentonville April 18th, 1912, in spite of a petition of 300,000 signatures. The house was bomb-damaged in
the Second World War and in 1958 was sold for conversion into flats. The house was reputed to be haunted but in
1978 was purchased by Islington BC and renovated.
Edward Richmond Hodges (1826-1881), Orientalist and author, died at his house in Tollington Park 9th May 1881. He
was also a missionary to the Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, went to Palestine and then in 1856
to Algeria.
William Trounce (1814-1878) was the founder of the ISLINGTON GAZETTE and in 1851 the Islington Directory (last
edition 1905). In 1839 he married Caroline Knibb, the daughter of an Islington grocer. He was the son of Samuel
Trounce, a farmer, and lived at 58 Tollington Park.
Sir Wakelin Saint, JP (1861-1928) an Alderman of Islington Council since 1906 and Chairman of the East Islington
Conservative Association and also a Member of the Metropolitan Water Board had his business address at the time
of his death at Bank Chambers, Finsbury Park. From 1891 to 1916 he lived at 81 Tollington Park. Knighted in 1927 he
was in April 1928 enrolled as the first FREEMAN of Islington.
CLYRO COURT 1967, ST. MARKS MANSIONS (c.1908/11 as St. Marks Villas), SALCOTT 1970,TOLLINGTON COURT 1938.
TOLLINGTON PLACE
On the 1851 Census.
TOLLINGTON ROAD (1854)
See also UPPER TOLLINGTON ROAD. For Jones Bros, see HOLLOWAY ROAD. The site of 109 and adjoining houses has
been occupied by the Michael Sobell Sports Centre costing over £1,750,000, whose foundation stone was laid by the
retired industrialist and benefactor Michael Sobell who gave £1,000,000 to the Variety Club of Great Britain for the
project. Cllr. Don Bromfield, Mayor, was present.
On 21st November, 1973, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened this 2 1/4 million pound sports complex with
its main arena seating 3000 spectators, a multi-purpose gymnasium, restaurant, bar, Committee rooms, squash
courts, practice and projectile halls, sauna suites, ice rink, table tennis and billiard rooms, to name only some of the
facilities! It was designed by W.D. Laming of R. Seifert & Partners.
THE GLOBE public house was there in 1870 between 23 and 25 Upper Tollington Road.
TOLLINGTON WAY
In the early 17th century Roffe’s or Cock Lane.
The CROWN INN was here in the 17th century. Before 1940 GROVE ROAD and GROVE PLACE (1850).
Between 1925 and 1930 were the Baptist Church Schools, now the Upper Holloway Hall housing the Baptist Church
Sunday Schools, a firm of commercial stationers and the Upper Holloway Youth Club.
The Evangelical Mission, 93 Tollington Way, dates from 1946. The ‘Ingleby Arms’ became in 1955 the Occupational
Therapy Dept. of the Royal Northern Hospital.
The ‘Sussex Arms’ public house was there in 1866.
TOLPUDDLE STREET
The 1986 new name of part of Culpeper and Mantell Streets. See under Copenhagen Street for information re the
Tolpuddle Tree etc..
TOMLINS WALK (Andover Estate) (1979)
Named after Thomas Edlyne Tomlins (18041872), a le.g.al writer and the author of Yseldon: a perambulation of
Islington and its Environs (1858).
He was the nephew of Sir Thomas Edi. Tomlins (1 762-1841),also a le.g.al authority and writer. T.E. Tomlins lived at
no.3 Park Street, 4 Halton Place and at 3 Charles Street, Gibson Square.
TOMPION HOUSE (Percival Estate),
Percival Street (1948)
Named after Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) the ‘father of English watchmaking’ who left English clocks and watches
among the world’s finest and in 1695 with Houghton and Barlow patented the cylinder escapement. He worked in
Water Lane, Fleet Street.
TOMPION STREET
Before 1935 SMITH STREET (1803-7).
TOPHAM STREET, EC1
Before 1937 Great Bath Street.
See under St. Alban’s Place re Topham. The ‘Horseshoe & Magpie’ public house was there as early as 1811.
TORNAY HOUSE (Priory Green Estate), Collier Street (1951)
Named after Father William Tornay, from 1471 -1475 Grand Prior of England of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem,
Receiver-General In England.
TORQUAY TERRACE c.1860
By 1870 nos.8 to 10 Seven Sisters Road.
TORRENS BUILDINGS
Formerly BLACKHORSE YARD, EC1. Renamed TORRENS FLATS 1963.
Erected 1883 by the Improved Industrial Dwellings Co. Ltd. Chairman: Sir Sydney H. Waterlow. Re-named from
Blackhorse Yard to Torrens Buildings, 1883. Demolished 1972.
These were named after William Torrens McCullagh Torrens, author and politician (1813-1894), Liberal MP for
Finsbury 1865-1885, who from 1866 to 1868 brought out a Bill ‘to provide better dwellings for artisans and
labourers’ in the more populous parts of the Metropolis. This allowed Vestries to clear away overcrowded slums. He
was also partially responsible for establishing a School Board for London. He withdrew from Parliament in 1885 and
in 1894 was knocked down by a hansom cab and died of his injuries.
TORRENS STREET (1884)
Formerly Blackhorse Yard, EC1. Disappeared after 1972.
TRANMERE HOUSE (Mersey Estate), Morgan Road (1962)
Tranmere is in the Birkenhead district and has a ferry to Liverpool.
Well-known for Tranmere Rovers FC.
TRAVERS ROAD (1865-6)
Benjamin Travers (1 783-1858) FRS and President 1847 and 1856 was Queen Victoria’s surgeon. Rear-Admiral Sir
Eaton Stannard Travers (1782-1858), K.H., was said to have engaged the enemy over 100 times. General James
Travers (1820-1884), C.B. obtained a VC for his services at Indur.
TREATY STREET
From 1835-1938 LONDON STREET. In 1985 re-numbering took place. The Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School
opened in 1965. Copenhagen Primary School originated with the old York Road School which opened 12th January
1874 and was re-organised in 1927.
In January 1887 it had become named Buckingham Street School, then 21st September 1937 Copenhagen LCC
School. In 1950 some property in Boadicea Street was acquired and cleared for an extension to the School. Reorganised
in 1964 for Junior Mixed and Infants and again in 1979. In 1970 a Nursery Wing had been added. YORK
WAY COURT 1948.
TRECASTLE WAY, Carleton Road (1973)
Trecastle, Brecon, is 10 miles west of Brecknock.
TREFIL WALK (Williamson Street Estate),
Williamson Street (1973) Trefil, Monmouthshire, is in the Trede.g.ar district.
TREMERTON PLACE, Wharf Road (1846-7)
Also spelt Trematon, which is the correct spelling.
By 1870 nos.47 to 55 Wharfdale Road. Trematon is 2 miles north west of Saltash, Cornwall.
TREMLETT GROVE (1878)
William Henry Brown Tremlett (1777-1866), son of George Tremlett, Master RN, took and destroyed over fifty
French ships between Ile Dieu and Cape Finisterre and was made an Admiral on half-pay, 1852.
His only son was Francisco Sangro Robert Dawson Tremlett (1815-1897) who retired as a Rear-Admiral in 1878 and
was responsible for a number of inventions used in the Service and in 1861 was employed at the Admiralty for a
system of training boys and in 1868 was Inspector of Training Ships. AVELING HOUSE 1968.
TRESSELL CLOSE (1984) See also WAKELIN HOUSE, Sebbon Street. Named after Robert Tressell (pseud, of Robert
Norman, 1868-1911). The Ragged- Trousered Philanthropist which he wrote c.1906-10 was a powerful novel of the
working life of a pre-1914 house painter.
TRIANGLE, The,
Cyrus Street, EC1 (1973-6)
TRINDER GARDENS, Trinder Road (1895)
TRINDER ROAD
The Rev. Daniel Trinder, MA (1828-1888) was Perpetual Curate of St. Michael’s, Highgate from 1878 until his death
and its east window in May 1889 was filled with stained glass as a memorial to him. From January 1887 he was a
member of Hornsey School Board and from 1887 Rural Dean of Highgate.
THE BEECHES 1960, CARLYLE VILLA 1881-2, TRINDER GARDENS 1895.
TRINIDAD PLACE, Liverpool Road (1830-5)
After 1869 nos. 82 to 124 Liverpool Road.
Named after a source of income to the Milner-Gibson family; it was part of the Milner-Gibson estate.
TRINITY ROW, Upper Street (c.1804) By 1860 nos.207-220 Upper Street. Here lived Phillip Melville (1762-1811)
Lieut.-Governor of Pendennis Castle from 1797 to 1811, who was severely wounded and left for dead in 1780 in the
memorable battle when the forces of Hyder AM defeated the British under Colonel William Baillie. Philip Melvill
wrote his Life and Religious Experience and his fifth son Henry (1798-1871) was a popular preacher and ‘one of the
greatest rhetoricians of his time’. His youngest and sixth son Sir Peter Melvill KCB (1803-95) was from 1855-61
Military Secretary to the Government.
TRINITY STREET (1845)
Since 1938 BATCHELOR STREET.
Named after Holy Trinity church, Cloudesley Square.
TUDOR COURT, King Henry’s Walk (1953)
See KING HENRY’S WALK.
TUFNELL HOUSE, Anson Road
See Tufnell Mansions
TUFNELL HOUSE, Pleasant Place (1905)
Re-habilitated 1976.
TUFNELL MANSIONS, Anson Road (1904)
Since 1968 Tufnell Mansions.
1904-1967 Tufnell House, Anson Road.
TUFNELL PARK MANSIONS, Holloway Road (1935-6)
TUFNELL PARK
The name ‘as such’ is even to be found in a rate book for 1845.
The Manor of Barnsbury remained in the Halton family until the death in February 1754 of Sir William Halton who
devised the Manor to William Tufnell (who afterwards assumed the name of Joliffe, hence ‘Joliffe House’) and
members of the family such as Edward Carleton Tufnell (see Carleton Road) and Augusta Theresa Anson Horton (see
Anson Road) possessed the copyhold of land in the manor at various periods after William’s death in 1797.
A privately printed book The Family of Tufnell by Lady Bertha Tufnell was published in 1924 and gives full details of
the Elizabethan Richard Tuffnayle and his descendants and the properties in Langleys, Nun Monkton and the Manor
of Barnsbury. After 1925 descent of the Manor is not traced and the Courts Baron books end then.
TUFNELL PARK ROAD (1824)
The Vestry’s Annual Report of 1883/4 refers to a number of subsidiary terraces, Spalding, Lady Margaret and Lincoln,
as well as Tufnell Park Road.
However, 1852-3 directories show houses nos. 1 to 11 and about 10 houses in Belgrave Place.
An 1870 directory shows nos. 1 to 51, 2 to 4 and St. George’s Church. That for 1871 also gives nos. 10, 20 and 22 St.
George’s Villas later to become nos. 60,80 and 84 Tufnell Park Road.
The Villas in Tufnell Park were designed by John Shaw (1803-1870), buried at Kensal Green Cemetery and the ‘grand
architect’ of the Tufnell estates and then by George Truefitt, FRIBA (1824-1902), surveyor to the Tufnell estates who
from1860-66 lived at 1 Middleton Road, Camden Road and from c.1870 to 1893 at ‘Fernbank’, Carleton Road. He
was also the architect of the Holloway Hall opened in October 1872,445 Holloway Road, later HOLLOWAY HOUSE.
ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH architect: George Truefitt see CRAYFORD ROAD. From 1859-1866 a temporary wooden
church was built on the site in Tufnell Park Road at the junction with Carleton Road.
George Murcell, in 1972 President of the Tufnell Park Residents’ Association, presented to the then Mayor, the late
Cllr. E. Gough, a seat at the junction of Lady Margaret and Tufnell Park roads as a ‘thank you’ from the local residents
to the Council for road safety improvements.
For ST. GEORGE’S THEATRE see under CRAYFORD ROAD.
Tufnell Park Primary School (ILEA) architect: Dr. J.L. Martin. At the corner of Dalmeny and Carleton Roads. Opened by
Miss Noel Streatfield, July 1955.
TUFNELL PARK HOTEL and TUFNELL PARK TAVERN
See under CAMPDALE ROAD.
TUFNELL PARK STATION (Northern Line) Opened 22 June 1907.
TUFNELL PARK F.C. (Football Club) was founded in 1907 and was a big name in the Isthmian and Athenian league
games and the F.A. Amateur games up to 1939.
The TUFNELL PARK RECREATION GROUND is shown on a large scale Ordnance Map of 1873 and in a local directory
for the year 1892 its owner was Henry Tufnell.
The Governors of the Northern Polytechnic were the lessees of the ground which was used by athletic and
recreation clubs.
The Local Collection at the Central Library contains a programme ‘Top Hats & Bonnets’ for the Whit-Monday of
1902. This was for an Eccentric Sports and Coronation Fete including a bun-eating contest, comical dog derby, slow
cycle race, Greasy Pole and Dress and Cigarette Race, a ‘Jack in The Green’, a Maypole Dance and a May Queen
Crowning.
In March 1981 certain premises and houses in the road were declared a Housing Action Area.
Rodolphe Louis Megroz (pseud: C.D. Dimsdale) (1899-1968) lived for some years at 116 Tufnell Park Road. He was a
poet, play wright, biographer and journalist.
Charles Green (1785-1870) aeronaut, balloonist and pioneer aviator died of sudden heart failure at ‘Ariel Villa’, 51
Tufnell Park Road 26th March 1870.
His experiments with coal gas led to its use in ballooning and between 1821 and 1852 he made over 500 ascents.
Joseph Holbrooke (1878-1958), composer of orchestral, choral and operatic works and author of Contemporary
British Composers lived at Vale House (between 21 and 23 Tufnell Park Road from c.1922-1926. He was also a pianist
at one time at the former Collins’s Music Hall and the Bedford, Camden Town,
Lottie Collins (1866-1910), singer, comedienne, famous for her ‘Ta-ra-ra-boom- de-ay’ song at the Tivoli and the
Grand Theatre. She is alleged to have lived at 20 Marquess Road and also 21 Tufnell Park Road. Her third husband
was James W. Tate, song-writer and former husband of Clarice Mayne. He was step-father to the raven- haired and
tempestuous Jose Collins (18871958), actress and singer, best-known for her ‘Maid of the Mountains’ (1917),
‘Southern . Maid’ (1920) and ‘The Last Waltz’ (1922). Jose spent her early years at Camden Road.
TUFNELL PARK TERRACE, Holloway Road (1843)
By 1881 re-numbered nos.429 to 443 Holloway Road.
TUNBRIDGE HOUSE (Spa Green Estate),
St. John Street (1949) A plaque on the front marks the site from c.1746 to 1830 of the former St. John Street
turnpike.
TURK’S HEAD YARD, 76/8 Turnmill Street
The ‘Turk’s Head’ was there as early as 1609-10. There is a reference in 1742 to a footpad attacking a man ‘on the
causeway leading from the Turk’s Head to the New River.’
TURLE ROAD (1839)
Probably named after a John Turle of no.11 Tollington Park who was at that address in 1830 and in 1833.
GEORGE ORWELLSCHOOL (ILEA) named after Eric Blair (see Canonbury Square) has been so named since September
1981. The main building is the former Tollington Park School premises (see Tollington Park) with annexes in Highgate
Hill and Scholefield Road, Upper Holloway and Holland Walk Annexe, Duncombe Road.
Don McCullen, the famous Second World War photographer, an ex-pupil, visited the School in 1982.
In 1984 Radio Four’s ‘Any Questions’ with Esther Rantzen, Denis Healey, Shirley Williams and Marcus Fox was
broadcast live from the Holland Walk annexe.
Next to the School since 1972 has been the TOLLINGTON PARK YOUTH CENTRE (ILEA) with a wide variety of youth
activities, indoor and out-door. For many years here was the Copenhagen Recreational Institute (evening classes).
TURLEWAY CLOSE, N4 (1981-2)
TURNBULL HOUSE (Cumming Estate)
Windsor Street, N1 (1961)
Turnbull was a popular name for Turnmill Street.
TURNER HOUSE, Corbyn Street (1967)
Named after Joseph Mallord William Turner, RA (1775-1851).
In 1800 Turner’s mother entered the St. Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics, Old Street but was discharged as incurable. She
then entered an Islington asylum where she remained until her death in 1804.
Turner himself used to sketch in the former lush countryside in the Tufnell Park Road area.
TURNMILL STREET, EC1
Before 1925 part of this was Cow Cross Street; a popular name for it was Turnbull Street.
It is mentioned in a 14th century document as TryImyl-streate (or Three Mill Street) after three water mills on the
River Fleet.
FAG’S WELL may well have been under the central portion of Cow Cross Street or Cow Cross. Mentioned by Stow in
1598.
Several had been hung, drawn and quartered there by the 15th century. In the early 18th century it was vulgarly and
falsely called Trumball or Turnbull Street.
In 1658 houses on the western side of the street had gardens leading down to the River Fleet. The street had many
courts and alleys but its western side was pulled down for the Clerkenwell Improvements of 1856/7. The street had
an ill reputation in the 17th century. Abutting on the street was ‘Pickhatch’ or Pickthatch. a centre in Ben Jonson’s
time for pick-pockets and prostitutes.
STATION CHAMBERS (c.1931-4) Contains the GPO buildings and engineering dept. since 1976.
BOOTH’S DISTILLERIES Ltd. Famous for Booth’s Gin, formerly of 55 Cowcross Street of 55 Clerkenwell Road, had
premises here since c.1929/30.
Turnmill Street no longer appears after 1969/70.
TURNPIKE HOUSE, King Square Estate (1965)
TURPIN WAY (Grovedale Estate), N19 (1979)
Richard Turpin (c.1706-1739) the celebrated highwayman, famous for his alleged ride to York on his horse ‘Bonny
Black Bess’ is alleged to have frequented the back lanes around Holloway see HAGBUSH LANE.
TWELVE ACRES, Highbury Quadrant (1969)
TWISTER’S ALLEY
There in 1738.
After 1883 DUFFERIN STREET.
TWYFORD HOUSE (Blackstock Estate), Hurlock Street (1939)
In the 1945 register of electors, but not in that for 1939.
TWYFORD STREET (1848)
Between nos.30and31 was from 1866 to 1905 the former TWYFORD HALL.
Twyford, Berks, is 4 1/2 miles north east of Reading. Twyford Street disappears after 1974.
TWYFORD VILLA, Caledonian Road (1844) By 1863 nos.229.
TYNDALE MANSIONS, Upper Street (1926)
Before 1927,Tyndale Place and Tyndale Works, demolished for the site of the Town Hall and Tyndale Mansions.
TYNDALE PLACE (1791-2)
Built by a Colonel Tyndale of a West country family.
Adjoining were John Ions livery stables destroyed by fire in 1796 and formerly used by the Islington Volunteer
cavalry and infantry and for drills and exercises in wet weather. New stables were erected and in the 1830s and
1840s were kept by William Cork.
Quakers used the premises for their assemblies.
Charles Derrick who died in 1831 and in 1806 published Memoirs of the Rise and Progress of the Royal Navy and in
1828-9 wrote for the Gentleman’s Magazine lived in Tyndale Place.
William Wild (d.1850) lived there from 1826 to 1850. Onetime Master in 1836 of the Ironmongers’ Company. In 1839
he founded Almshouses at Langley Marish, Bucks.
Francis Rivington (1744-1822) was Senior Partner in the firm of Rivingtons, booksellers of St. Paul’s Churchyard and
Waterloo Place. He was a Governor of all the royal hospitals and director of the Union Fire Office and a noted worker
for the Sons of the Clergy and many charities, notably for children.
TYNDALE TERRACE, Canonbury Lane (1871)
In 1966, Vivian Broughton, a resident, then aged 25 and a member of Islington Congregational Chapel, Upper Street
and a well- known pacifist and contributor to Peace News was, with two other young Britons, arrested in Moscow for
distributing what were then regarded as anti-Government leaflets. Janette Hammond of Whitehall Park, aged 20 and
John Careswell, 21 of Chingford, were questioned and then deported from the USSR within 24 hours.
TYPE COURT, Moor Lane (1796)
Disappeared after 1958 to 1963.
TYPE STREET (part City of London) (c.1789)
After 1886 MOOR LANE.
TYSOE STREET, EC1 (1819) Re-numbered 1907.
Built on land belonging to the Marquis of Northampton. Compton Wynyates, his seat, is in the parish and three
villages of Tysoe, Warwickshire.
Since 1961 the former premises of a beer retailer have been called the Three Crowns public house.
Thomas Alfred Jackson (1879-1955) writer, lecturer and Communist was born 21st August 1879 son of Thomas
Blackwell Jackson a compositor and one of a family of craftsmen. From the ages of seven to thirteen he attended
Duncombe Road Board School.
TYTHERTON ROAD (1885)
Not in the 1881 Census, Named after Tytherton, Wilts.
The former Church of ALL SAINTS, Tufnell Park was the centre of a Parish created in 1881. The Church, dating from
1882, was designed by J.E.H. Cutts and built by Messrs. Dove Bros. It was bomb-damaged in 1941 and 1944 and was
re-dedicated for worship in 1953 by the then Bishop of London, Dr. J.W.C. Wand.
In March 1984 the Parish merged with that of St. George’s, Tufnell Park.
U
ULTRA COTTAGES, Chalk Road
Later Caledonian Road.
These appear in the 1840-3 rate books near William Street, part of Caledonian Road. Not in the 1841 Census.
ULTRA GROVE
Appears in the 1841-6 rate books near William Street, Chalk Road.
On the 1841 Census as Lower and Upper Ultra Grove.
UNION PLACE, City Road (1801-2)
Later Union Row. Name abolished 1859,
UNION PLACE
Incorporated with and numbered in Glasshouse Yard, Goswell Road in 1936,
UNION PLACE, Northampton Street, Lower Road (1823)
By 1866 nos.197 to 205 Essex Road.
UNION PLACE, Upper Holloway (c.1852)
Formerly Holloway East.
By 1860 Hercules Terrace, by 1881-2 nos.498-506 Holloway Road.
UNION ROAD, Holloway (1839)
Since 1891 ORLESTON ROAD.
Union Road, Albion Road, 1855.Consisted then of Union Lodge owned by a firm of cab proprietors and nos.1 and 2
Richmond Villas. In 1890 nos.1-5 Richmond Villas.
UNION ROAD, Tufnell Park
From 1860 to 1870 four properties. Since 1938 PLESHEY ROAD.
UNION ROW, Balls Pond Road
Union Place in 1841. In rate books 1841-53.
UNION ROW, City Road
Union Place 1801-2. Name abolished 1859.
UNION SQUARE (1853)
In 1946 the London & Manchester Assurance Co. presented the freehold of the Square plus Arlington and Preband
squares to the Council. They presented a bird bath also and the gardens were designed by W.G. Ross and made by
the Wharf Lane Concrete Co. Ltd of llminster, Somerset.
UNION STREET (1853)
In rate books 1853-1855 near Union Square.
On the 1861-1881 Censuses.
By 1938 RECTOR STREET.
UPPER STREET
See also ISLINGTON GREEN & ISLINGTON HIGH STREET.
A map of 1735 shows Upper Street and in Elizabethan times were the Upper Street and the Lower Street or Lower
Road of the village of Islington.
T. Tomlins in 1858 wrote ‘from the Angel to the point where the Lower Road (Essex Road) branches off at Islington
Green is now called the High Street; and from the upper end of the Green to some 150 yards beyond the Church (St.
Mary’s Parish Church) is called the Upper or Town Street.’
Although part of Upper Street appears as such there were a large number of rows and terraces, e.g.: In the year 1806
there were Church Row, Ruffords Buildings, The Terrace, York Place, Wells Row, Oddys Row, Hedge Row. Clarks Row,
Trinity Row, Hopkins Buildings, Sans Buildings, Sebbons Buildings etc..
See also Commerce Row, Barnsbury Place.
The Vestry in June 1857 decided to abolish the separate designation of the various rows and terraces and courts and
this was recommended to the Metropolitan Board of Works and the west side of Upper Street was from 1857-8 renumbered.
This process in October 1859 was decreed to be continued and re-numbering took place on the east side between
The Fox, Islington Green and Cross Street. In 1860 ‘subsidiary names from the Green to the corner of Cross Street to
be abolished and it be called CHURCH ROW throughout and numbered consecutively.’
The ‘raised causeway’ appearance of the High Street from the St. John Street and Angel end to the Church was called
‘the Long Causeway’. In 1619 it was noted that the roads to Islington were very bad and no doubt worshippers at the
church and pedestrians were catered for by this, which causes the elevated appearance of this part of the High
Street and Upper Street.
In the early 19th century even were the remains of ancient buildings, the old Vicarage House, the Pied Bull Inn etc.,
and Islington, particularly in the haymaking season, was of a rural aspect, with its pound or strayed cattle and its
village green.
However, in 1874 the Vestry noted the
‘disgraceful conduct of rough men and boys on Sunday afternoons and evenings in Upper Street’ and police had to
be called.
By 1888 whatever rurality remained had almost gone, the Upper Street was widened by ‘setting back the eastern
side of the road between Islington Green and Florence Street and the western side between Waterloo Terrace and
Barnsbury Street.’ The widened street was re-opened in early 1888.
Certain of the old structures behind the modern shop facades still linger.
Nos. 194-5 were there in 1778. Nos.232-5 were from the 1890s to 1916 ‘Goodson’s, mantle manufacturers’, in the
1850s, a berlin warehouse and formed part of Sebbons Buildings (also Sans Buildings), also from the 18th century.
Nos.289 to 302 was Ruffords Row, there in 1688.
Islington High Street and Upper Street were in their hey-day fashionable and populous with the ‘Angel Tea Shop’ and
earlier still ‘The Angel’ and its Silver Grille, the ‘World’s Fair’ and the Royal Agricultural Hall which housed it, Collins’s
Music Hall on the Green and the rows of horse-drawn carriages waiting outside the great North London drapery
emporiums of ‘Rackstraws’ (T.R. Roberts Ltd).
In 1874 M.H. Rackstraw who had left school at the age of fifteen worked a 13 to 14 hour day and at the age of only
26 opened his first shop at 210 Upper Street with two assistants. By 1905 he had nos.208 to 215 Upper Street and
employed about 250 people. He retired to ‘Copley Dene’, Cholmeley Park, Highgate when aged 75 in 1923. The
house was well-known for its rock gardens. He died in April 1928.
By 1920 ‘Rackstraws’ had been taken over and amalgamated with T.R. Roberts, Ltd, drapers. The premises were
severely bombed in 1940.
Some of the property was subsequently sold, but this once well-known ‘senior store of North London’ at 215-225
Upper Street closed down on 1st August, 1953.
Since 1950 nos.40-42 Upper Street have been connected with foot care. Then Islington Foot Clinic it has been for
many years Scholl’s foot care shop and Staff Training school in pedicure. Messrs. Scholl’s head office is in St. John
Street EC1.
The ‘Champion’ Public House, 44/5 Upper Street was re-opened 9th October 1983 as ‘The Passage’.
From 1831 to May 1973 it was the ‘Star & Garter’ public house, re-named ‘The Champion’ from 1973 to 1983
because its licensee was Len Harvey (1907-1976). He died 28th November 1976.
His wife Florence writing from a Penn Road Address in September 1983 said that her husband and she be.g.an their
married life in Camden Road in the early 1930s at the height of his fame. About 1923 he came from Cornwall to live
in Caledonian Road and lived in Islington in retirement until his death.
When he retired in 1942 this famous boxer had fought 418 contests and was at the peak of his career 1928-1939. He
won three British and Empire titles, heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight and also claimed the world
light heavyweight championship.
Next to the Three Wheat Sheaves was the BERNERS HALL, completed in 1869 until 1872 the New Concert Hall.
In October 1873 the MOHAWK MINSTRELS opened at the Berners Hall in August 1876 moving to the larger St. Marys
Hall of the Royal Agricultural Hall. From September 1900 to April 1904 they were the Mohawk, Moore & Burgess
Minstrels at the St. James’s Hall, Piccadilly. Johnny Danvers, Johnny Schofield and Harry Hunter were three of the
best-known. Harry Hunter joined later the firm of Francis, Day & Hunter, world-famous publishers of sheet music.
Two of the Mohawks were James and William Francis.
In 1903 Walter Gibbons took over the ownership and it became the ISLINGTON EMPIRE.
There were rowdy scenes outside during the Music-Hail Strike of performers and artistes from the 21st of January to
18th of February 1907. Artistes took over the Myddelton Hall and then moved to the Mildmay Radical Club.
An ex-Islington Councillor, Edward Henry Jarvis of Horsell Road was fined for assault and Fred Storey, a comedian,
charged with offences. ‘Collins’s Music Hall’ was picketed.
From 1912-18 it became the Islington Palace (sub-let to T.R. Read by the London Theatre of Varieties). On 6th August
1901 ‘animated pictures’ were shown under the auspices of the Royal Animated & Singing Picture Co.
In 1918 it became the BLUE HALL CINEMA and by 1946 the GAUMONT (seating 1303) the last cinema performance
being January 5th, 1963. After then it was used for ‘Bingo’ until 1975.
What later became no.107 Upper Street was c.1740 a boarding school for young ladies kept by a Mrs. Science. Here
her son- in-law John Shield (d.1786) opened a boys’ academy. Pupils included William Hawes (see Hawes Street),
William Tooke (1744-1820), historian and John Nichols (see Highbury Place). Edward Flower and his wife kept a large
boarding-school in 1810 and up to c.1829-30. By 1844 the school was owned by T.E. Edgeworth and, having 20
rooms, was sold. ‘Flower’s Academy’ was well-known.
The ‘Three Wheatsheaves’ at no.56, corner of Berners Road, has existed for many years in the 1830s being at no.50
Hedge Row. On the 26th November 1863 the public house fell in killing two carpenters in the employ of a builder
and injuring seven other people.
No.75 Upper Street Dome Antiques (Exports) Ltd. was opened 26th December 1908 as the ELECTRIC THEATRE, hence
the female figure on the dome which once caused an electric lighted globe to be held aloft. By 1924 John William
North who was still there in 1938 had the premises as an ‘automatic exhibition’ and from 1947 to 1971 it was an
amusement arcade and rifle range. Since 1972 it has been first for the sale of antique arms and militaria, then
antiques.
At 83-85 is the SCREEN ON THE GREEN, proprietress Romaine Hart. Since 1970 this has been well-known Londonwide
for specialised films for the young and discriminating filmgoer and connoisseurs of the art of the film. It is a 293
seater luxury cinema.
In 1911 the Pesaresi Brothers opened a Picture Theatre at 83 Upper Street. In 1914 it was an empty building but
opened in 1915 as The Empress Picture Theatre so remaining until 1950.
It re-opened in December 1951 as the REX, seating 514, with a fanfare of trumpets from the Islington Air Training
Corps (ATC) whose 9F Squadron was from Parkhurst Road. The cinema was opened by Alderman Albert Baker, then
Mayor. Seats were 1s 9d and old age pensioners 6d. Closed 1970 and re-opened as The Screen on the Green.
Stephen Woolley was an usher here in 1975.
At no.100, corner of Theberton Street, is the Pied Bull Public house. By 1725 it was the PIED BULL INN and was pulled
down in 1830.
This is on the site of an ancient house whose wainscotted parlour bore the arms of Sir John Miller, Kt. of Devon who
married Mary Grigg of London and lived c.1617 to 1634 at Islington. It is alleged to have been the residence of Sir
John from 1624 to 1639.
There is a strong local tradition that it was a house visited by Sir Walter Raleigh.
The celebrated story of his servant throwing water over him or a tankard of ale believing him to be on fire from
tobacco smoked in the leaf and seeing smoke issuing from his Master’s mouth may have been outside this ancient
hostelry. The new ‘Virginia Weed’ was then tobacco brought from the New World. Other contenders for the incident
who say that it took place either in or outside their premises include Bassishaw Street (Basinghall Street), City of
London and The Old Queens Head, Lower Street (Essex Road, Islington)!
In 1825 with William Hone as Chairman, George Cruikshank the artist and illustrator David Sage and Joseph
Goodyear met together and drank the toast To The Immortal Memory of Sir Walter Raleigh’.
In a directory of 1843 the hostelry appears as the ‘Old Pied Bull’ 90 Upper Street.
At no.104 Upper Street c.1888 period until the 1890s was a Waxworks’ Exhibition of Grand Tableaux and
Instruments of Torture.
The ‘King’s Head’ public house at 15 Upper Street now so well known for its Theatre, has a very old site. The original
house was said to have been built c.1543 and is certainly mentioned in 1594. An inn was known to Samuel Pepys
whose Diary 27th March 1664 records: ‘Thence walked through the ducking pond fields; but they are so altered since
my father used to carry us to Islington, to the old man’s, at the King’s Head, to eat cakes and ale.. .’.
The COURT BARON of the Manor of Barnsbury used to be held here.
JOHN QUICK (1794-1831) (see QUICK STREET) used it as a favourite resort. The Central Library possesses the original
Minute Book of the Loyal Islington Volunteers and the Association of Islington inhabitants formed in 1792 against the
threat of Napoleonic invasion. The last entry is March 2nd, 1798.
The chairman who presided over these meetings with ‘liberal, candid and gentlemanlike behaviour’ was Alexander
Aubert, Esq., see AUBERT.
In the 1850s the Gardens were well-known for the Dutch Pin ground there and also Quoits and Skittles were played,
c.1864 the inn was replaced by one standing further back.
In December 1970 Dan Crawford founded the KING’S THEATRE making it into a ‘theatre pub’ now famous all over
London for its presentation of plays and sketches.
The NORTHERN DISTRICT POST OFFICE 116-118 Upper Street was erected 1905.
Before then it was an extensive yard used by builders and contractors such as Messrs. Dove Bros., Thomas Andrews
and James Fulbrook. In 1873 the centre of the yard was occupied by a saw-mill the property of Michael and Charles
Collinwood.
In 1875 ‘Black Peter Murphy’ was arrested for the gruesome murder of eight including the Rev. Nahum Whitley, a
Nonconformist preacher and prison visitor.
The ‘Mitre’ was there in the 18th century. In 1964 the landlord became Jimmy Wheeler, ex-Bermondsey light
heavyweight who retired from boxing in 1934. He and his wife organised outings to the seaside for local schoolchildren
throughout the 1970s. Since the mid-1970s the pub has been under new management, 130 Upper Street.
The ‘Royal Mail’ public house, 153 Upper Street dates from the early 19th century and was there in 1821.
For the MYDDE LTON HALL see under Almeida Street.
SUTTON DWELLINGS between 178 and 181 Upper Street, Architect: Sir Henry Tanner, were a site of three acres
acquired in 1919 and becoming 199 flats completed in 1926.
Owned by a Finsbury trust in 1924. In August 1976 its 50th anniversary was celebrated by tenants, mums, dads and
children, with a street party in the courtyard outside and dancing.
The Estate is under the Will of William Richard Sutton, the carrier, who died in 1900.
On the site stood from 1827 to 1915 the extensive buildings of the CHURCH MISSIONARY COLLEGE, Architect.
William Brooks (1781 -1867), also architect of the London Institution, Finsbury Circus and the father of Shirley
Brooks, former editor of Punch. The College had spacious gardens intersected by gravel walks.
The College was founded in 1825 in College Street (now Cross). The old mansion known as ‘Harvey’s’ dating from
1716-19 . (from having been the residence of a Jacob Harvey) was then used as the house of the Principal of the CMS
College. The Rev. Charles Frederick Child (1807-97) was Principal from 1839 to 1858, later becoming the Rector of
Holbrook near Ipswich, 1858 to 1884.
The ‘Hare & Hounds’ public house at 181 (before 1860, no.13 Barnsbury Place) was there certainly as early as 1819.
‘Barney’ known as the ‘Canine Casanova’ who died in 1977 was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marie Hale, then licensees.
He used to travel on a no.30 bus and was often brought home from the West End by taxi.
MARSDEN’S WINE LODGE at 189 Upper Street has been there since c.1931. Formerly a pork butcher’s shop, it was
there as premises even as early as 1835.
Under Vintner’s Privilege, a Freeman of the Vintner’s Co. ,by Apprenticeship or Patrimony (by Charter of Elizabeth I
17th May 1567), can open a Wine Bar in ‘certaine cities and towns on the post roads between London and Dover and
London and Berwick’!
Next door at no.190 since November 1978 has been the ‘Sisterwrite’ feminist bookshop.
At no.207 is the ‘Hope & Anchor’ (originally no.1 Trinity Row and there in the 1850’s).
Since the 1970’s it has been a well-known venue for rock music bands and before then for jazz but in 1985 it was
announced that in 1986 its future would be ‘non-rock’. Among those groups and performers who have played there
have included Dire Straits, The Police, The Damned, Madness, The Specials, Elvis Costello and Ian Drury.
The ‘Angel & Crown’ at 235 Upper Street (before 1860 no.5 Sebbons Buildings) was there in 1738 when a parish
dinner or Churchwardens’ Feast took place. The inn was kept by a Mr. Sebbon of whose family was a Mrs. Sebbon
who died in February 1759, the mother of 22 children (see under Sebbons Buildings).
In the 1840’s the parlour had a full-length portrait of Lt.-Col. Alexander Aubert dismounted and holding the bridle of
his charger painted by Mather Brown (1761 -1831) the American artist. This is now in the possession of Islington
Libraries.
At 251/6 Upper Street is CLUB UNION HOUSE, since the early 1960s the headquarters of the CIU (Working Men’s
Club and Institute Union) founded in 1862 by the Rev. Henry Solly ,a Unitarian Minister, a pioneer of clubs for
working men.
The first headquarters were in 1893 in Clerkenwell Road near Holborn Town Hall, sharing the building with a
railmen’s union and an organisation of women’s trades unionists.
For the COCK TAVERN see Highbury Corner.
At 333 was even before 1856 an undertaker’s business, but c.1880 Henry M. Repuke who died in 1932 had a
flourishing business, the last establishment North of the Thames to use horses and carriages up to 1947.
PHELPS COTTAGE, see under PHELPS.
The Camden Publishing Co., 323 Upper Street (Proprietor: Ernest Rose) was founded in Upper Street in 1904 and in
1919also had a shop in Green Street, Leicester Square. It published before the Second World War a series The
Camden Novels and books on sex like the Works of Aristotle in paperback.
At 316 Upper Street is ‘Bread & Roses’, a wholefood collective ‘alternative’ food store, restaurant and bookshop
founded in 1977 by Norman Ellis, Liz Yeats, Kath Barrow, Dave Norcliffe and Alf Incley.
313 was from 1981-6 the headquarters of the City Limits magazine.
At the corner of Gaskin Street is Islington Chapel (see also Church Street) building rebuilt 1887-9. It became Islington
United Reform Church in 1972 and closed in 1979.
The old 18th century original ISLINGTON CHAPE L was built in 1788 on the site of Watson’s Nurseries by Jeremiah
Garrett and John Ives, blacksmith. The old chapel house became a British School and later was used up to 1965 by a
firm of fancy feather dyers at no.16 Gaskin Street (formerly Church Street). The former Sunday Schools and the old
chapel were demolished by 1965.
In 1974 owing to lack of congregational use, the Council applied for listed building consent to rebuild the existing
premises to provide dual purpose Church, Church Hall and ancillary accommodation and to provide sixteen
additional flats to Victor Cazalet House.
The Rev. John Spurgeon was Minister from 1873-6. He was a tradesman at Kelvedon, Essex, when his son Charles
Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), the fiery revivalist and preacher, was born. Charles used to preach the Anniversary
Sermons at the Chapel and in September 1876 drew large crowds.
THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARY ISLINGTON, Upper Street, had before 1751 a Church of some considerable
antiquity on its site.
Smaller buildings existed, possibly even in Anglo-Saxon times and from 1128-1141 the Dean & Chapter of St. Pauls
and the nuns of ‘Stratford atte Bowe’ heard rival claims for the patronage of the ‘Church of Iseldon’.
However, Walter Gerkin, the earliest Vicar whose name has survived was succeeded by Egbert de Felsted in 1327.
A 15th century Church was built here about 1483, with a tower in the Old English style, low-built in rough ‘boulder’
masonry, with a tiled roof and six bells. It had spacious aisles and a brick and stone floor. This Church contained in
pre-Reformation days a ‘Mariola’ or image of the Virgin also known as ‘Our Lady of Islington’. This was an object of
some veneration in pre-Reformation times.
A sun-dial bearing the date 1708 and a motto ‘Dum spectas, fugit hora’ (while thou waitest. Time flies) was near the
top of the south side of its tower.
For Meredith Hanmer see HANMER.
William Cave, Vicar in 1662 was there at the time when as the Vestry Minutes now held at the Central Library record
£17 19s. Id. was the sum of money collected in the parish Church to relieve the distress of the ‘poor citizens of
London whose poverty came by fire’. These camped in tents or hovels in the fields and their plight must have been
very distressing.
Cave became Chaplain to Charles II and later Canon of Windsor.
His successor in 1691, Robert Gery, became a Prebendary of Lincoln.
George Stonehouse, Vicar 1738-40, was an associate of John Wesley who often preached there; Charles Wesley was
a Curate at St. Mary’s, 1738-9.
For George Strahan, DD, Prebendary of Rochester, see STRAHAN.
The Libraries possess a tinted ink and wash drawing by Nathaniel Clarkson dated 14th October 1785 showing the
Church and its porch as it was then. He was a coach and a sign painter and became a member of the Incorporated
Society of Artists and in 1787 presented a painting of The Annunciation done by himself which was placed at the east
window of the church. He died 26th September 1795 aged 71.
The Church had become structurally unsafe, but so strong were its foundations gunpowder had to be used to blow it
up in 1751.
Lancelot Dowbiggin (1689-1759) a Master Joiner was commissioned to design a new Church which was consecrated
26th May 1754. Dowbiggin’s plans and note-book are at the Central Library and his tomb is in the erupt of the
church.
In 1814 a Chapel of Ease was built. See Holloway Road, St. Mary Magdalene.
From 1824-32 the incumbent was the Rev. Daniel Wilson, DD, founder of the ISLINGTON CLERICAL CONFERENCE in
1827 in the Library of the then Vicarage in Barnsbury Park. Also in 1831 his Sermons caused his cousin Joseph Wilson
to found the Lord’s Day Observance Society. In 1832 Daniel became Bishop of Calcutta, India, where he died in 1858.
His son Daniel succeeded him as Vicar for 54 years from 1832 to 1886 and became a Prebendary of St. Paul’s.
At this Church on 19th January 1848 were married William Elgar, a piano tuner who gave his address as no.6 High
Street, Islington and Ann Greening. Their son became one of England’s greatest composers, SIR EDWARD ELGAR
(1857-1934). By 1842 the original Parish had grown to eleven.
From 1886 to 1902 the Incumbent was the Rev. William Hagger Barlow, Prebendary of St. Pauls. He had been from
1875 to 1882 the principal of the CMS College and he built the Bishop Wilson Memorial Hall adjacent to the Church
in 1890, superseding the former one which had been in use in 1860 and was in Church Street (now Gaskin Street). In
1897 he also built the present Vicarage.
The population was now in the region of 340,000 (347,017 in 1907) and there were 40 separate parishes.
On the night of the 9th September 1940, the Church was severely damaged by a German bomb, apart from the
tower and spire which had been reinforced in 1936. The eight bells (six of them transferred from the medieval
church) were unharmed.
The 17th century silver plate, the Mace presented in 1808 with its silver-gilt figures of the Virgin and Child and the
veined marble font of 1754 survived intact. The tombs in the churchyard suffered extensive damage.
The Church was rebuilt, the architects being Lord Mottistone and Paul Paget and the builders, Dove Bros.
Murals by Brian Thomas depict the Eight Attributes of Christ.
On 17th December 1956 bells of all the Churches rang for a service of re-dedication conducted by the Bishop of
London in the presence of HRH Duchess of Gloucester.
The parish schools, originally founded in 1710 in a large room over the west porch of the church until 1718 were
destroyed 29th June 1944 but in 1966 the first part of ST. MARY’S DAY SCHOOL (see FOWLER ROAD) was opened by
the Most Rev. F.D. Coggan, DD, Archbishop of York, later to become Archbishop of Canterbury, who was a Curate of
the Church from 1934 to 1937.
The Rev. Hugh Rowlands Gough, Curate 1928-1931 and Vicar 1946-1948 later Bishop of Barking, then Archbishop of
Sydney.
Charles James Procter MA, Prebendary, Rural Dean and Vicar 1902-1921 was the founder of the ‘Procter Club’ for
men who had worshipped at St. Mary’s and Service and ex-service men of the First World War. The Libraries possess
a fine large oil painting of the Rev. Procter by George F. Bird.
Other celebrated latter-day incumbents have included the Rt. Rev. David S. Sheppard, MA since 1975 Bishop of
Liverpool who was a Curate at St. Mary’s from 1955 to 1958 during which time he played cricket for England; the Rt.
Rev. Maurice A.P. Wood, MA, DSC since 1971 Bishop of Norwich who was Rural Dean and Vicar of Islington from
1952 to 1961.
At 303 Upper Street was the former ISLINGTON MEDICAL CENTRE, formerly in Britannia Row. This was bombed in
1940 but work continued in rooms at Islington Chapel. In 1949 the Mission came to Upper Street. The building had
before then been ISLINGTON DISPENSARY founded in 1821, rebuilt in 1886 and bombed in 1940. This had had soup
kitchens and provided aid for the poor.
In 1957 Dr. Thomas Theodore Thomson, then aged 78, left after 25 years’ service. For many years he and his wife
worked in Southern India and he was with the Friends’ Ambulance Unit at Ypres in the First World War.
In October 1976 the Centre closed altogether in Islington, the end of many years of service.
For the ALMEIDA THEATRE see under ALMEIDA.
From 1917 to 1986 no.295 Upper Street has been the Committee Rooms of the Islington Labour Party, later the
Islington South and Finsbury Labour Party.
In 1910 the Islington Trades and Labour Party was formed with Harry Coleman as Secretary and T.E. Naylor,
President.
Divisional Labour Parties North, South, East and West were formed in 1918.
Labour has controlled Islington’s local government since 1st November 1934 when it won a victory over the
Municipal Reformers. That is, with the exception of Conservative rule from 1968 to 1971.
Since 1901 a FIRE STATION has been next to the Unity Church, Upper Street. The Superintendent then was W.P.
Mundy.
Before then the London Salvage Corps had their Station at 91 and 92 Upper Street from 1886.
The freehold site of the present POLICE STATION in Upper Street was purchased in 1857.
In 1864 Islington was a station of N Division with one horse to be ridden by two Inspectors on duty alternatively (not
a pantomime one).
The strength of the station was two inspectors, nine police sergeants and 89 police constables.
The UNITY CHURCH started on its present site in 1862. The former premises and grounds of Matthew Head,
nurseryman and florist were purchased and the Unitarians from Carter Lane and local residents who were Unitarians
witnessed the opening of the new Church on 20th August, 1862. The Minister was the Rev. Henry lerson, MA, who
later visited America and met Longfellow the poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Oliver Wendell Holmes the writers and
another female author, Mrs. Harriett Beecher Stowe.
On November 6th 1940 a bomb almost completely destroyed the Church except for its ‘Preston Room’ which
miraculously survived and services were held here.
However, a new church. Architect, Kenneth Tayler, ARIBA, was built which could also be used as a Hall for dances,
wedding receptions and meetings. The late Sir Adrian Boult, the great conductor, opened the Church 1st November,
1958.
The Minister from 1929 (apart from 194750 at Kilburn Unitarian Church) was the Rev. Victor Fox until 1975 when he
died aged 87.
On the site of the Service Station, 276 Upper Street, corner of Florence Street, stood the former VESTRY HALL of the
Parish of St. Mary Islington built 1859-60, Architect: H.E. Cooper. This was auctioned in October 1925 and sold in
September 1927 and became the LIDO CINEMA. In 1932 its proprietor was Ben Rose and it had a 9ft. stage with two
dressing-rooms and a 34ft. wide proscenium. Prices of admission then were from 9d. to 2s.
By 1941 it was owned by Odeon Picture Theatres Ltd. and was an ODEON by 1943 and remained so until 1961 and
was then demolished to make way for a service station.
ISLINGTON TOWN HALL: In 1920 the Council acquired the 3 1/2 acres of the Tyndale Place site. In 1922 there was
fierce opposition to the plan but the section containing the General Offices was completed in June 1923.
The buildings were planned by E.C.P. Monson, FRIBA.FSI and the foundation stone laid in June 1922 by Alderman
H.G. Coleman as Mayor.
The Council Chamber and Finance Dept. were completed and the ‘Extension to the Municipal Buildings’ was opened
on 10th October 1925 by Cllr. Sidney C. Harper, JP, Mayor from 1922 to 1925, who on 17th January had laid the
foundation stone of this Extension. Music was provided by the Boys’ Band of the Board of Guardians.
The building was further added to by the opening of the Public Hall erected by S. Shaw to the designs of E.C.P.
Monson, This was opened 15th March 1930 by Alderman W.E. Manchester, JP, Mayor.
However, the story from 1920 to 1930 at a time of poverty and unemployment was of some fierce opposition to
expenditure on the fine building.
On 3rd January 1921 there was a riot and proceedings were brought by Inspector Alderton of N Division of the Met.
Police against a man called Sewell and several other unemployed, found in possession of a dagger and fire-arms.
The present coat of arms granted by Letters Patent 3rd February 1966 symbolises the former separate Metropolitan
Boroughs of Islington and of Finsbury being united and includes as its main features:- A water-bouget above the
helm taken from the arms of the Berners family — hence Iselden Berners and Barnsbury. An arrow symbolising the
archery associations of the past in Islington and Finsbury. The yellow crescent on the red background from the arms
of Sir Thomas Sutton, founder of the Charterhouse and the yellow rings (annulets) from his arms and those of Sir
Richard Whittington.
The wavy field in blue and white symbolising the associations with water, New River, etc.. The book of learning such
educational institutions as the Polytechnic of North London and the City University.
The Maltese Cross which is the insignia of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The Motto: WE SERVE.
At 266 Upper Street is the firm of undertakers, Cooksey & Son, a firm established in 1833 and which was also at 52
Amwell Street Daniel Cooksey was in 1880 a Clerkenwell Vestryman and for years a School Manager. W.T. Cooksey
died in 1952 aged 86. He was in 1903 Auditor of Accounts to the Vestry and a Councillor for St. Mary’s Ward in 1906
and an Alderman 1922 to 1928.
ADSTOCK HOUSE 1970, BASSING- BOURN 1970, CADMORE HOUSE 1970, DATCHWORTH HOUSE 1970, DEVON
HOUSE 1937 (named as such 1939), ETAL HOUSE 1971, FLITTON HOUSE 1970, GARSTON HOUSE 1970, HEXTON
HOUSE 1970, HIGHBURY MANSIONS 1892, ICKLEFORD HOUSE 1970, JURLY HOUSE 1970 (rebuilding 1983/4), KEYSOE
HOUSE 1970 (rebuilding 1983/4), LAVENDON HOUSE 1970 (rebuilding 1983/4), MARTOCK HOUSE 1970, NAVER
HOUSE 1970, TYNDALE MANSIONS 1926.
For those associated with Upper Street, the names are many.
Sir Walter Raleigh (see under Pied Bull). John Nichols (see under Highbury Place) was born in 1745 at 90 Upper Street
(later re-numbered 116 and in 1860 Mrs. Maria Woodward’s baker’s and confectioner’s shop), John Playford (High
Street) (see under PLAYFORD ROAD), Kate Greenaway (1846-1901), the daughter of John Greenaway .draughtsman
and wood engraver and illustrator to the Illustrated London News and Punch.
From Napier Street, Hoxton the family came to Islington and from 1852 to 1878 Elizabeth, her mother, kept a fancy
goods and milliner’s shop at 123 Upper Street (later to be re-numbered 147).
A plaque was unveiled by Errol Le Cain, children’s book illustrator, film and television animator and artist on 8th
August at Allan’s Shoe Shop, 147 Upper Street. The staff of the South East Library, Essex Road, where refreshments
were served after the ceremony of 8th August 1985, hosted a Victorian party there.
Kate Greenaway had attended Mrs. Fiveash’s School at no.12 Richmond Terrace (later to be 52 Richmond Avenue)
and studied at an Art class held in Canonbury Tower, c.1877 she had a studio at College Place, Liverpool Road. See
also under PEMBERTON GARDENS.
Dr. William Pitcairn (1711-1791) resided in a house in Upper Street opposite to Cross Street and commenced on land
behind there a 5 acre botanical garden. By 1835 this had been given over to vegetable cultivation and by 1842 had
ceased to exist. Dr. Pitcairn’s garden was sold by auction in May 1792. See also ALMEIDA STREET.
Mrs. Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1757-1797) (see also under Newington Green) kept a school with Fanny Blood in
Upper Street before taking one with her sister Eliza at Newington Green, which unsuccessful school closed in 1787.
Mrs. Ann Gilbert (1782-1866) better known as Ann Taylor was the daughter of the Rev. Isaac Taylor of Ongar, Essex.
She was born, his eldest child, 30th January 1782. He was only 22 and be.g.an married life in rooms on the first floor
of a house in Upper Street,
Ann’s sister, Jane Taylor (1783-1824) and she were the joint authoresses of Original Poems for Infant Minds (1804).
Their poem, ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’ appeared in Rhymes for the Nursery (1806).
James Monro, MA,MD (1680-1752) was from 1728-52 Physician to the Bethlehem Hospital for Lunatics (Bedlam) and
his eldest son John who died in 1791 became sole physician there when his father’s health declined. He resided for
many years in an old house in Upper Street opposite to Tyndale Place.
For Enrico Malatesta see under ISLINGTON HIGH STREET.
Robert Seymour (1797-1836), artist and illustrator lived at 8 Church Row, Upper Street see under LIVERPOOL ROAD.
William Upcott (1779-1845) was from 1806 until 1834 sub-Librarian under Porson to the London Institution. He then
removed to 102 Upper Street which he named ‘Autograph Cottage’.
In 1836 he had 32,000 letters, exclusive of MSS, illustrated with 3000 portraits.
He also preserved and brought to light John Evelyn’s diary. He died 23rd September 1845. Some of his collection is
preserved at the British Library.
He was a founder of the Guildhall Library and in 1818 published in 3 volumes a Bibliographical account of works
relating to English topography which he had compiled.
At Evans Auction Rooms, 106 New Bond Street Messrs. Sotheby & Co. auctioned off his library, autograph letters,
prints, pictures and curiosities. The sale took 11 days!
On June 18th 1851 died John Jeaffreson aged 77, highly respected in Islington as a general practitioner in medicine.
His son John succeeded him and was his partner in the practice. He lived at no.10 Trinity, Upper Street. Father, son
and grandson were in practice in Islington.
Isaac Disraeli took a house, according to John Jeaffreson the Elder at no.9 which later became215 Upper Street after
1860 becoming part of “Rackstraw’s” drapery emporium. Benjamin Disraeli was sent to school at an early age,
probably to Miss Roper’s Academy in Colebrook Row. The Disraeli’s only son lived at Trinity Row for about a year and
had been living in a house ‘behind Canonbury Tower’. His birthplace, 21st December 1804 may have been elsewhere
than in Islington but the family lived here for about a year to 18 months. Benjamin Disraeli was Prime Minister
February to December 1868 and 1874 to April 1880.
‘Rusty and Shine’ was a well-known pre- Second World War music-hall act which from c.1926 to 1937 toured most
English-speaking countries including South Africa and Australia. Charles Pepher (‘Rusty’) died suddenly in January
1938 leaving Mr. Edward Frisby (‘Shine’) who lived at 150 Upper Street.
Charles Henry Pearson (1830-1894) was born at 12 Barnsbury Place, 7th September 1830, the fourth son of the Rev
.John Norman Pearson (1787-1865) first Principal of the Church Missionary College from 1826-1839.
The old house formerly known as ‘Harvey’s’ was where he passed the first nine years of his life. He was a sheep
farmer, then a government minister in Victoria, Australia. He was lecturer in English Literature at Kings College, 1855
and up to 1865 professor of Modern History, editor of the National Review, Minister of Education in Australia from
1886-1890 where he went in 1871 and became from 1892 a permanent secretary to the Agent- General of Victoria.
He was an historian, editor of the Satires of Juvenal with H.A. Strong, a writer and politician.
Dr.W.Berriman see BERRIMAN ROAD.
Sydney Baynes see HIGHBURY MANSIONS.
Mrs. Flowerdew see TERRACE, The. UPPER TERRACE (1819-1854) before 1818, TERRACE, The (1798-1818).
By 1877 nos.288 to 178 Upper Street.
UPPER ASHBY STREET (1809-10)
Re-named and part of Ashby Street, Goswell Road after 1935.
UPPER BAKER STREET (1826)
With Baker Street re-named LLOYD BAKER STREET after 1937.
UPPER BARDSEY WALK (Marquess Estate) (1977)
UPPER BARNSBURY STREET (1841)
Nos.1-15 odd were 1811 to 1883 Felix Street, Liverpool Road).
By 1887, 55-69 and 73-111 and the District Relief Offices and Vaccination Station.
UPPER BEMERTON STREET (1852)
By 1877 nos.40-100 and 89-171 Bemerton Street.
UPPER CALDY STREET (Marquess Estate) (1974)
UPPER CHADWELL STREET (1828-9)
After 1935 INGELBERT STREET.
Thomas Cromwell (1792-1870) lived there in 1828 when clerk to the paving commissioners of Clerkenwell. Author of
histories of Clerkenwell and Islington.
UPPER CHARLES STREET (1814)
After 1935 SEBASTIAN STREET.
UPPER COPENHAGEN STREET (1827-30)
By 1866 nos.2-30 and 25-27 COPENHAGEN STREET.
UPPER DENGIE WALK (Popham Estate) (1977)
UPPER DUNCAN PLACE (1848)
See DUNCAN PLACE.
UPPER FOUNTAIN PLACE
With New Street (c.1740), after 1895 CAYTON STREET, City Road.
UPPER FREELING STREET (1854)
By 1877 part of FREELING STREET.
UPPER GLOUCESTER STREET (c.1841)
After 1936 part of GLOUCESTER WAY.
UPPER GULLAND WALK (Marquess Estate) (1974/7)
UPPER HANDAWALK (Marquess Estate) (1975/7)
UPPER HAWKWELLWALK (Popham Estate) (1978)
UPPER HOLLOWAY (1938)
In 1885 Upper Holloway Road appears in local directories as a number of places and terraces, but by 1886 nos.481-
695 Holloway Road and Sutton Place, Holloway Road (which later by 1887 became nos.1 -9 Highgate Hill).
UPPER HOLLOWAY WEST (1855) UPPER HOLLOWAY and JUNCTION ROAD Station (Midland Railway) was opened
1872.
UPPER HORNSEY RISE (1853)
By 1936 HILLRISE ROAD.
UPPER ISLINGTON TERRACE, Park Road (1824-5)
By 1870 nos.118-166 CLOUDESLEY Road.
UPPER JOHN STREET
Appears in the 1849 street index and in the 1851 census.
By 1870 part of John Street. Liverpool Road. By 1899 LOFTING ROAD.
UPPER LISMOREWALK (Marquess Estate) (1977)
UPPER MARGARET STREET (1821)
Since 1937 MARGERY STREET.
UPPER MORAY ROAD
See MORAY ROAD.
UPPER NORTH STREET (1845)
Including STAR AND GARTER YARD and WITCOMBE’S YARD.
Last in the 1892 directory, nos.1-25, later NORTH STREET, Pentonville, then after 1905 NORTHDOWN STREET.
UPPER PENTON STREET (1836)
By 1866 nos.2-19 BARNSBURY ROAD.
UPPER RAMSEY WALK (Marquess Estate) (1978)
UPPER SHEPPEY WALK (Marquess Estate) (1975/6)
UPPER SMITH STREET
Was there in 1827. After 1935 EARLSTOKE STREET.
UPPER SOUTHAMPTON STREET (1828-9)
By 1891 nos. 81-103 Southampton Street.
UPPER TERRACE. Upper Street.
Before 1818 TERRACE, The. There from c.1789/9. By 1877 nos.278-288 Upper Street.
UPPER TOLLINGTON PARK
In the 1870 directory and in directories to 1890. On an 1894/6 large scale OS map.
Shimpling Place c.1878 became by 1882 nos.15-55 Upper Tollington Park.
UPPER TOLLINGTON ROAD
In the 1870 directory. By 1902 nos.80-122 and New Clarence Yard, Tollington Road and nos.83-117.
UPPER ULTRA GROVE or Upper Ultra Road
On the 1841 census was Lower and Upper Ultra Grove.
In the rate books to 1847. Not on the 1851 census.
UPPER VERNON STREET (1843)
By 1935 PRIDEAUX PLACE.
UPPER VICTORIA ROAD (1850)
After 1867 CHALFONT ROAD.
UPPER WHITTINGTON PLACE, Highgate Hill
In 1886 consisted of the ‘Whittington Stone Tavern’ and nos.15-19 Upper Whittington Place. ‘
By 1887 nos.53-63 Highgate Hill.
UPPER WILLIAM STREET NORTH
In a rate book for 1854.
UPPER WINCHESTER STREET (1846)
By 1886 nos.1-29. By 1887 nos.71-105 and 70-82 Winchester Street.
After 1938 KILLICK STREET (qv).
UPPER WOOD STREET (1844)
UPPER YARDLEY STREET (1835)
Incorporated with and numbered since 1935 with YARDLEY STREET.
V
VALE COTTAGES, Almina Road, Strouds Vale
In 1847-9 rate books.
VALE ROYAL
This first appears as such in the Islington rate books for 1845 but on R.Dent’s large scale 1806 terrier map appears as
‘Belfield or Vale Royal’ which in 1804 was Belisle Field, see BELLE ISLE.
The Vale Royal estate originated in 11 acres conveyed 1274-5 to Richard of Hethersett by Gervin, son of Peter the
Otter Hunter and Denise his wife. Richard granted land and rent to the abbey of Vale Royal, Cheshire, in 1299
including 12 acres held in Islington by the heirs of Ralph de Berners (see BARNSBURY).
In the 1806 period the 10’/z acre estate called Bellfield or Vale Royal was owned by Samuel Brandon and formed the
site of a pottery and hartshorn factory.
Belle Isle and this area was the centre of tile kilns, brick-making, the manufacture of lampblack, varnish, japanning,
blood manure, horse slaughtering and ‘noxious trades’ in the 19th century.
In 1980 it was declared an Industrial Improvement area.
VALETTA STREET (1808)
Before 1890 PRINCES STREET.
Named after Valetta, Malta, headquarters of the Knights of St. John.
VARDEN HOUSE (Tremlett Grove Estate)
25a Tremlett Grove (1966) Dolly Varden was the pretty daughter of Gabriel Varden, locksmith, who married Joe
Willet in Charles Dickens’s Bamaby Rudge.
VAUDEVILLE COURT, St.Thomas’s Road (1967)
See ST .THOMAS’S ROAD.
VAYNOR HOUSE, Williamson Street (1973)
Vaynor is two and a half miles north of Merthyr Tydfil.
VENN HOUSE, Charlotte Terrace (Barnsbury Estate) (1954)
Named after the Rev. Henry Venn, B.D. (1796-1873) from 1834 to 1846 vicar of St. John’s, Upper Holloway and
Honorary Secretary of the Church Missionary Society 1841-1873 and the author of sermons, pamphlets and
memoirs. He was descended from beneficed clergymen of the Church of England in an uninterrupted line from the
Reformation. He was also a great help to the education of the poor, founding with a committee, c.1864 St. John’s
Ragged Schools, Gordon Court, Highgate Hill and also St. Marks Church of England Primary School, Sussex Way, built
and maintained by him 1836, enlarged 1846 and in 1863 conveyed for the National and Infant Schools for ST. Mark
and St. Mary, Hornsey Rise.
VERNON HOUSE, Prideaux Place (1938)
VERNON PLACE (1844)
After 1863 part of Kings Cross Road.
VERNON RISE
Before 1936 VERNON STREET (1842). Re-numbered 1906.
VERNON SQUARE (1845)
Part before 1906 was PERCY SQUARE (1851).
VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH was originally Vernon Chapel erected in 1846 for a congregation of Baptists worshipping
in Fetter Lane by the Rev, Owen Clarke, but in 1859 the congregation left and built another Chapel nearby, Arthur
Street Chapel. In 1861 the Rev. Standen-Pearce re-opened it and it was rebuilt in 1937.
VERNON STREET (1842)
By 1843 Upper and Lower Vernon Street.
Since 1936 VERNON RISE.
All named after Admiral Edward Vernon (1684-1757) who in 1739 took Porto Bello, the first to issue ‘grog’ in the
Navy, 1740. Thomas Topham, the Islington strong man, performed before him. (see St. Alban’s Place) and he also
visited Clerkenwell.
Upper Vernon Street was by 1935 PRIDEAUX PLACE.
Lower Vernon Street was by 1935 VERNON RISE.
VIBART WALK (Delhi/Outram Estate) (1980)
The Vibart family is well-known in the records of the Services and of India.
VICKERY COURT, Mitchell Street, Old Street (St. Luke’s Estate) (1975)
Named after Abraham Vickery from 1763 to 1796 Chief Clerk to the Bank of England. His portrait by Zoffany hangs in
the Bank.
VICTOR CAZALET HOUSE St. Mary’s Path (1950)
Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet, DL, JP was a well-known racehorse trainer (1907 to 1973).
VICTOR ROAD
On the 1871 census and nos.1 -11 and a laundry are in the 1874 directory. Disappeared after 1971.
VICTORIA COTTAGES (1853)
By 1871 nos.191-194 Holloway Road.
VICTORIA DWELLINGS (1880)
Soho and Clerkenwell Industrial Dwellings Co.
Herbal Hill, Clerkenwell and Farringdon Road.
VICTORIA MANSIONS, Holloway Road N7 (1897)
VICTORIA PLACE, Lower Road (Frog Lane) (1840)
After 1890 incorporated in DIBDEN STREET.
VICTORIA PLACE, Victoria Street In the 1827-9 rate books.
VICTORIA PLACE, City Road Name abolished 1859.
VICTORIA PLACE, Queens Road, nr. Albert Place (1855)
On the 1861 census as part of Queens Road, Hornsey Road.
VICTORIA ROAD, Balls Pond Road
In the 1855 rate book.
VICTORIA ROAD, Holloway (1837)
After 1937 CHILLINGWORTH ROAD.
VICTORIA ROAD, Hornsey Rise (c.1865/6)
Since 1871 BEAUMONT ROAD since 1938 BEAUMONT RISE.
VICTORIA ROAD, Upper, Liverpool Road (1850)
After 1867 CHALFONT ROAD.
VICTORIA STREET, Edward Street, Barnsbury
In the 1826 to 1829 rate books.
In an 1849 Street Index as Edward Street, Pentonville.
VICTORIA STREET, Lower Road In an 1855 rate book.
VICTORIA TERRACE, Victoria Road Holloway (1854)
By 1870 incorporated in Victoria Road.
VICTORIA TERRACE, Hornsey Rise
From 1851 4 Queens Square, Hornsey Rise see p.189 of the Michaelmas 1851 rate book.
1855 to 1886 Victoria Terrace. From 1887 nos. 9 to 19 HORNSEY RISE.
VICTORIA TERRACE, York Road (1845)
In ratebooks to 1855 as part of the Caledonian Road near Stephenson Terrace.
VIDEO COURT, Mountview Road (1967)
VINCENT COURT, Hanley Road, N4 (1936)
VINCENT PLACE, City Gardens
In rate books 1822 to 1838.
VINCENT ROW, City Road.
Name abolished 1859.
VINCENT TERRACE (1839)
The Islington course of the Regent’s Canal
contains the remarkable ISLINGTON TUNNEL from Vincent Terrace to Muriel Street, 970 yards long, 19ft 6inches high
and 17ft 6inches wide.
During excavations for it the verterbral remains of a crocodile were found under Pentonville Hill embedded in the
blue clay.
On the site of Sermon Lane Ragged School which had a building from 1851 was by 1882a Mission Hall, the Sermon
Lane Mission.
This had a once famous Superintendent who died in 1888, George Fuller, who worked in which was then a very
rough and crowded quarter of ‘street arabs’ and what were then called ‘fallen women’, thieves and drunkards. He
toiled amidst the poor, sick and unwanted, eventually succumbing on 19th July 1888 to ill-health brought on by his
visits to the sick.
The ‘Prince of Wales’ public house dated from c.1861-2.
VINEYARD GARDENS, Northampton Road (c.1772/3)
Closed by an Order of 1936.
VINEYARD MEWS (c.1907/8)
VINEYARD WALK, Farringdon Road (1808)
In monastic times a vineyard is said to have flourished here, probably cultivated on behalf of the Priory of St. John of
Jerusalem.
A tenement called Le Vyne was mentioned in a cartulary of 1306. The ground then was much higher.
In 1759 one Samuel Bradford had a summer house, vineyard, orchard, fishpond and gardens.
The original houses called Vineyard Gardens were small tenements built in rows with long enclosed gardens in front
of them from Bowling Green Lane to Rosoman Street. By the mid-19th century they had almost disappeared.
In 1750 the area covered by Vineyard Walk and Gardens, Pine Street, Northampton Road and Row was called the
Quakers’ Gardens ‘from the fact that the inhabitants of that body and their occupation principally consisted of
cultivating mulberry trees.’
VITTORIA HOUSE (Barnsbury Estate), Charlotte Terrace (1938)
Improved by the GLC 1973.
VITTORIA PLACE, Vittoria Street (1830)
Last in the 1936/7 register of electors.
For the School see under HALF MOON CRESCENT.
VITTORIA STREET (1823)
Last in the 1957 SW/B register of electors.
After then in CHARLOTTE TERRACE (Barnsbury Estate).
VORLEY ROAD
Originally ALMA ROAD (c,1859). In 1866 re-named and re-numbered. Maybe after a William Vorley who owned and
rented land in this area, but not on this site. See 1848 Tithe Redemption Map List of Owners.
W
WAKEFIELD TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1852)
By 1863 nos. 344 to 386 Caledonian Road.
WAKEHAM STREET, Essex Road
From 1871 to 1914 Orchard Street. From 1823/5 to 1870 Orchard Grove.
WAKELIN HOUSE, Sebbon Street (1934)
Officially opened 26th October 1934 by the then Minister of Health, the Rt. Hon. Sir Hilton Young, GBE, DSO, DSC,
MP. Architect: E.C.P. Monson, FRIBA, FSI.
Built on the site of a clearance area. Church Grove, Church Lane, Rothery Place and Street.
Named after Sir Thomas Wakelin Saint, JP, the first Freeman of the Borough, for 22 years and Alderman and a
Councillor from 1900 until his death in 1928.
In 1984 the ground floor was re-developed and named: 1-8 Tressell Close (clockwise), 7-11 (cons.) Richmond Grove,
EW, 1-9 (cons) Sebbon Street.
WAKELING TERRACE, Caledonian Road (1846)
The owner was Henry Beverley Wakeling, a solicitor, of Great Percy Street in 1855 and the family was well-known in
Islington.
From c.1866 here was the Sandemanian Chapel, Wakeling Terrace, Pococks Fields by 1871 to be 7 Barnsbury Grove
(q.v.).
WAKLEY STREET, EC1 (1807)
Before 1936 SIDNEY STREET. Formerly in Islington, see 1860-1 rate book.
Named after Thomas Wakley (1795-1862), MP for Finsbury from 1835 to 1852. The Sidney Arms public house was
since c.1917 a beer retailers. In 1953 it became (about then) the ‘Sidney Arms’ public house, licensee Mrs. Daisy
Lilian Witherick, before c.1953 being kept by Arthur Witherick.
Since 1974 No. 8 has been the headquarters, opened by Princess Margaret, of the NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BUREAU &
CHILDREN’SCENTRE.
WALKINSHAW COURT, Rotherfield Street (1957)
Named after Colin Constantine Walkinshaw, JP (1884-1955) known as “Walks’, who lived in Canonbury Place and in
1938 opened King Edward Hall, Canonbury Tower, as a Youth Club. From 1919 to 1951 he was a tireless worker at
the Mary Ward Settlement, Warden from 1935 and in 1951 President. He was a former Chairman of North London
Juvenile Court, Chairman of Islington Borough Youth Committee and Boy Scouts’ Association.
WALL STREET
From 1845 to 1868 MOTTS LANE.
Re-named 1868, including Annis Place, THE CROFT 1967.
WALLACE HOUSE (Caledonian Estate), Caledonian Road (1966)
Formerly Wallace Buildings, 1908.
Part of the former LCC’s Caledonian Estate, architect: H. Riley.
WALLACE ROAD
First as such in the 1883 directory. From c.1864/5 to 1882 DOUGLAS ROAD NORTH.
Sir William Wallace (c.1272-1305), Scottish patriot, was like Robert The Bruce, a national hero.
Newington Road & Balls Pond Station (August 1858) of the North London Railway was replaced by CANONBURY
STATION, opened 1 December 1870. The line Canonbury Junction to Finsbury Park was 1875.
WALLER HOUSE (Mayville Estate), Matthias Road (1956)
Named after Edmund Waller, MP (16061687)
WALMSLEY STREET
Formerly Lower Charles Street 1935 and Charles Street 1890.
Named after Robert Mullineux Walmsley, D.Sc (Lond), FRSE, F. Inst. Phy., FCS, AFRA & S, Principal since 1896 and
Head of the Electrical Engineering Dept. of the Northampton Polytechnic Institute (now the City University),
Chairman of Convocation and since 1905 Senator of the University of London.
Died 15 June 1924. Last in the 1966 R/R register of electors.
WALNEY WALK (Marquess Estate) N1 (1977)
The Isle of Walney and Walney Scar are in Lancashire.
WALTER PLACE, Caledonian Road (1848)
By 1863 nos. 192 to 212 Caledonian Road.
WALTERS HOUSE, Essex Road,N1 (1972)
WALTERSVILLE ROAD
See WARLTERSVILLE.
WALTON HOUSE, Thane Villas (1900)
WARD ROAD, N19
On a large scale map of 1869. Not on the 1871 Census. In the 1882 directory nos. 1,2,4 to 11,13 to 15 and 16 to 21.
FISHER HOUSE 1962, LANG HOUSE 1962, TAIT HOUSE 1972, TEMPLE HOUSE 1962.
WARD’S PLACE
Ancient buildings, formerly in the Lower Street, south side of Green Man’s Lane.
Demolished c.1800. Believed to have been built by Sir Thomas Lovell. They had stucco decoration, stained glass and
carved work.
WARD’S PLACE, Lower Road (1830)
WARDENS PLACE, Clerkenwell Close (1727-8) •
Originally known as Wardens Court up to c.1851. Gone by 1957/9.
WARLEY HOUSE (Dovercourt Estate), Baxter Road (1966)
Great and Little Warley and Warley Common are in Essex, near Brentwood.
WARLTERS BUILDINGS (1830)
Named after Thomas Warlters named in the 1830 rate book as a ratepayer.
He died in 1868 at Addington, Croydon, aged 89. Mr. Warlters presented the site for St. Mary’s Church, Ashley Road,
Hornsey Rise, 1860-1.
By 1871 nos. 373 to 393 Holloway Road.
WARLTERS CLOSE, N7 (1934)
WARLTERS MEWS
Shown as early as 1887 in registers of electors as Warlters Road Mews.
Consisted of a set of stabling. Included Elsenham Cottage, last in the SW/IB register of electors, 1970.
WARLTERS ROAD
Footpath was paved, 1858-60 on the 1861 Census.
In the West Register of Electors 1900. In 1898 contained Warlters Road school rooms and the London Street
Tramway Co’s stables.
Up to 1933 nos. 1 to 15, after 1933 up to no. 36 which are c.1933.
WARLTERSVILLE MANSIONS, Warltersville Road (1922)
Demolished, then re-habilitated 1974.
WARLTERSVILLE ROAD (1857/8)
In 1860 consisted of nos. 1 to 9 which latter was Heathfield Lodge and Westcoomb House, Coomb House and what
later was by 1870 Tower House owned James Buchanan and was demolished by 1983. Next door was the Church of
the Apostolic Faith and Tower Hall, both gone after 1972.
At no. 14 died on 2nd December 1923 aged 75, surely an important figure in the history of William Morn’s and of
English printing, Edward Phillip Prince, shown on the 1921 to 1923 registers of electors, punch cutter to the
Kelmscott, Doves, Ashendene and Cranach presses.
At no. 1 Warltersville Road lived from c. 1866 to 1871 the Rev. Reginald Gunnery, the first Vicar of St. Mary’s, Ashley
Road.
HILLRISE MANSIONS 1938, LEYDEN MANSIONS 1931. WARLTERSVILLE MANSIONS 1922, Rehabilitated 1974.
WARNER HOUSE, Warner Street (1976)
WARNER STREET
There in 1676.
From c.1735 and before 1877 Great Warner and Little Warner Street. West side is in the borough of Camden.
Named after John Warner and his eldest son, Robert. Part of the Jervoise Estate, 1811. A great fire took place in the
street 21 May 1893.
For information on Henry Carey see under SALLY PLACE.
WARNER HOUSE 1976.
Charles Cowden Clarke (1787-1877) author, musician and lecturer lived in Warner Street in 1815 when he came to
London.
WARNER STREET, Roman Way C. 1862 and up to 1935.
Since 1938 OLDERSHAW ROAD.
WARREN BUILDINGS. 4-23 Ironmonger Row (Police Barracks) Demolished c. 1970.
WARREN COURT, Grant Street.
Before 1936 Warren Mews.
WARREN HOUSE, Mitchell Street (Police flats) 1922. There till 1969.
WARREN STREET
Since 1936 GRANT STREET.
Warren Street dated from c.1828 and was erected as a portion of the former White Conduit Tea Gardens, the
proprietor of which was a Mr. Stephen Warren who died aged 59 in 1827.
WARRENDER ROAD,N19 (1879-80)
DAVIDSON HOUSE 1967, LAMPSON HOUSE 1983/4,PALMER HOUSE 1961.
WARSAW VILLAS
On the 1861 Census as part of St. John’s Park.
On the 1871 Census and in the 1871 directory.
By 1874 nos. 3 to 9 Pemberton Road, after 1896 nos. 5-17 Pemberton Gardens.
WARWICK VILLAS, Spencer Street, Canonbury.
After 1937 and until c. 1981/2 SHILLING- FORD STREET.
In the 1860 directory, by 1870 nos. 1 to 13 Spencer Street.
WARWICK YARD (1814)
Before 1912 Warwick Place, Whitecross Street.
Re-named and re-numbered by 1912.
WATERLOO PLACE
On the 1841 and 1851 census returns.
Waterloo Street, EC1
WATERLOO TERRACE, Upper Street (1852)
Nos. 19 to 22 were from 1854 to 1890 Wellesley Terrace, Wellington Street.
PREMIER HOUSE, before c. 1965 Premier Buildings, there in 1890.
WATERLOW ROAD
From c. 1887 to 1919 BISMARCK ROAD.
Road first came into being about 1887 but more built up by 1892.
Named after David Sydney Waterlow (1857-1924), fourth son of Sir Sydney Waterlow, 1st Bart., after whom
Waterlow Park is named. Liberal MP for North Islington 1906-10, LCC member for North St. Pancras, 1898 to 1910.
At no. 14 Bismarck Road the third wife of George Joseph Smith, the notorious ‘Brides in the Bath’ murderer was
killed in 1914.
WATERS COURT, nr. Rufford’s Buildings (1838)
On census returns from 1841 to 1871.
This became known as an ‘Irish Court’ much given to over-crowding.
WATKINSON ROAD
Since 1970 the new name of ‘that part of George’s Road extending eastwards from Roman Way for approx. 125
yards’.
Named after Cllr. Frederick George Watkinson of Goodmayes, Essex, who in 1903 was a Councillor for Thornhill
ward. ALDERSHAW 1954.
WAVERLEY COURT, Holloway Road (1977/8)
WAYMOUTH VILLAS, Moray Road (1895/6)
Named after W. Waymouth Rowe who lived at no. 3.
WEATHERBURY HOUSE (Wedmore Estate), Wedmore Street (1904) Modernised in 1969.
‘Weatherbury’ was in Thomas Hardy’s novel Far from the Madding Crowd. Based on Puddletown, Dorset.
WEBB’S COTTAGES, Hornsey Road (1845)
In census returns until 1881. Not in directories.
WEBSTER HOUSE (Mayville Estate), Boleyn Road, N16 (1949)
Named after John Webster (c.1580-c.1625), dramatist.
WEDMORE GARDENS, N19 (1883)
WEDMORE MEWS, Wedmore Street
On a large scale 1894/6 O.S. map.
WEDMORE STREET
See also TIGER COTTAGES.
The name was approved, 1877. Before then, JOHN STREET, Upper Holloway, dating fromc.1829. In 1852 St. John
Street, 1855 John Street.
Earlier still a number of subsidiary names prior to 1870: Tiger Cottages, Woodbine Cottages, Ivy Cottages, Bellevue
Cottages and Harford Place.
In 1835 there were Elizabeth and Laurel Cottages, e.g. Nos. 42 to 50 Wedmore Street were before 1874 Harford
Place.
In 1806 there were a house, outbuildings, yard, garden and meadowland owned by a family surnamed Bennet.
Wedmore is 4 1/2 miles south of Axbridge, Somerset.
MELCHESTER HOUSE 1904, modernised 1971 ;NORCOMBE HOUSE 1904, modernised 1970; WEATHERBURY HOUSE
1904, modernised 1969; WESSEX HOUSE 1904, modernised 1971.
WELBY HOUSE (Hornsey Rise Estate), Hazellville Road (1979) Commemorates Lord Welby, Chairman of the LCC,
1900. Reginald Earle, Baron Wei by (1832-1915), former LCC Alderman died 30 October 1915.
WELLESLEY TERRACE, Wellington Street (1854)
By 1891 nos. 19 to 22 Waterloo Terrace.
Named after Field-Marshal Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), 1st Duke of Wellington the victor of Waterloo.
WELLINGTON PLACE, Holloway Road (1845)
By 1871 nos. 404-428 Holloway Road.
WELLINGTON PLACE, Liverpool Rd (1820)
1820 to 1834 Wellington Place, 1835 to 1852 Wellington Terrace, 1853 to 1906 Wellington Place. From 1907 EPPING
PLACE.
WELLINGTON ROAD, Barnsbury (1854)
Before 1885/6 Packhorse Lane and Wellington Road Avenue.
After 1885/6 Wellington Road. Since 1937 LOUGH ROAD.
WELLINGTON STREET, Upper Street (1838-40)
After 1890 ALMEIDA STREET.
WELLINGTON STREET, Holloway (Old Wellington Street, St. James’s Road)
Re-numbered after December 1867. In the 1870 to 1880 period Old Wellington Street 1881. RHODES STREET
incorporated ‘Old Wellington Street and Hollingsworth Street North.
WELLINGTON STREET, Pentonville (1815)
Since 1890 BUSACO STREET. Disappeared c. 1945/50.
However, the ‘Duke of Wellington’ public house there from 1875 to 1958.
WELLINGTON STREET (1815)
By 1861 part of LEVER STREET.
WELLINGTON TERRACE, Liverpool Road (1835)
Wellington Place 1820-1834, Wellington Terrace 1835-1852, Wellington Place 1853-1906, EPPING PLACE 1907+.
WELL COURT, Queen Margaret’s Grove (1952)
WELL HOUSE, (Spa Green Estate), Rosebery Avenue (1949)
Named after Sadler’s Wells.
WELLS ROW, Upper Street
On a map of 1735.
In rate books 1805, etc.. In 1855 nos. 1 to 19, Highbury Coal depot, the railway station. Cock Tavern and nos. 23 and
24.
By 1860 nos. 242 to 266 Upper Street. John Quick (1748-1831), actor and comedian lived in Wells Row.
See HORNSEY ROW and QUICK STREET. George Thompson died in July 1826 aged 68 for many years a printer of
ballads and cheap pictures in Long Lane. Said to have died worth £70,000.
WELLS TERRACE, Fonthill Road (1871)
For Finsbury Park Station see under STATION PLACE.
In 1919 the present ‘Railway’ public house was called the Railway Hotel, the licensee being Mrs. Mary E. Field, in
1916 listed as a beer retailer at that address, next to no. 9.
On the south side then were the Great Northern Railway goods yard and milk depot, Finsbury Park Electric Railway
station, the GN R goods depot and a firm of hay and straw merchants.
WENLAKE BUILDINGS, Roby Street (1905)
Owned by the LCC.
By 1965 WENLAKE HOUSE (Wenlake Estate) Central Street, EC1 (1964).
WENLAKE COTTAGE, (1963) Anchor Yard, Old Street (Wenlake Estate).
WENLOCK BUILDINGS, Ironmonger Row
There in 1912.
WESLEY CLOSE, off Durham Road (1976)
WESSEX BUILDINGS (1903-4)
LCC Model Dwellings, opened in 1904.
Not there after 1964 as such, became Wessex House.
WESSEX HOUSE, Wedmore Street (Wedmore Estate) (1903-4).
Modernised 1971.
The Wessex of Hardy’s novels of Dorsetshire.
WESSEX MEWS
On an 1894-6 OS map as Wedmore Mews, Wedmore Street.
Last in the North B 1969 register of electors.
WEST PLACE (1809)
By 1861 part of Lever Street.
WEST PLACE, near Cumberland Row, High Street (1840)
By 1877 nos.331 to 342 Upper Street. WEST PLACE
After 1936 Northwest Place, Chapel Market.
WEST SIDE, Duvals Lane (Hornsey Road)
In rate books from 1815 to 1833.
WEST STREET, Strouds Vale (1847)
On the 1851 Census and rate books to 1855. Not on the 1861 Census.
WEST STREET
Formerly Chick Lane, there in the 17th century.
Pu lied down in the 1860’s for the Clerkenwell Improvements.
WEST TERRACE, Park Road (1848)
By 1878 nos.24-48 PARKHURST ROAD.
WEST VILLA, Met. Benefit Society’s Almshouses
On register of electors as early as 1885.
WESTACOTTCLOSE (Elthorne Estate),
Mulkern Road (1977-8)
WESTBOURNE ROAD (1850)
See also ARUNDEL PLACE (1824).
In May 1866 the ‘remaining portion of Westbourne Road was taken under jurisdiction’ by the Vestry.
Between 1888 and 1903 the numbering was changed.
The ‘Arundel Arms’ appears under Arundel Place, Barnsbury, as early as 1855. The adjoining houses nos.6 to 12 are
from 1855-60 and opposite to nos.13 to 23 which are from 1861-2.
The Primary School, an annexe to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, opened in 1965 ST GILES CHRISTIAN MISSION was
originally founded in 1860 at Seven Dials. It moved from Little Wild Street to the former (1931) Arundel Square
Congregational Chapel (corner of Bride Street) 1935. This chapel was partly rebuilt and adapted as a mission with
religious and social work, lectures, meetings etc.., and a Club Room for the use of old or unemployed and homeless
people.
ST DAVID’S CHURCH, Westbourne Road was built by Messrs. Dove Bros, to a design by E.L. Blackburne.
In 1935 the church was burnt down but rebuilt by T.F. Ford and re-dedicated 18th February 1936.
The former parish of St. Clement’s, Barnsbury (see St. Clement Street) is now part of St. David’s parish. St. David’s is
now also used as a Greek Church.
WESTBOURNE ROAD EAST
Before 1860 Adam and Eve Lane, 1860-1897 Westbourne Road East, from 1897 SHERINGHAM ROAD.
The WESTBOURNE ROAD ESTATE (1971-6) has completely altered the character of this area and an area of 13 acres
has been rebuilt with an almost completely new face. Nos.16 to 44 and 25 to 121 are from 1977.
WESTBROOK HOUSE (Ringcross Estate),
Georges Road (1932-3)
First appears under Hartnoll Street.
WESTCLIFF HOUSE (Dovercourt Estate), Baxter Road (1966)
WESTERDALE COURT, Leigh Road/Aubert Park (1977)
Westerdale is in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
WESTMORELAND HOUSE, Fieldway Crescent (1905)
WESTON RISE, WC1 (1790) Before 1937 WESTON STREET.
Built by John Weston of Penton Rise on land leased from the Penton family. At no.2 lived three members of the
Arnald family: Miss A.M. Arnald, landscape artist, 1823-31; George Arnald, ARA, landscape and marine artist, 1821-
1841; and his son Sebastian Wyndham Arnald, sculptor and painter, c.1836.
Weston Rise Estate: FOXCROFT 1968, FREARSON HOUSE 1969, HURST HOUSE 1969, SHARWOOD 1968,STELFOX
1968.
WESTON STREET (1790) After 1937 WESTON RISE.
WHADCOAT STREET
From c.1864-5 until 1938 CAMPBELL ROAD.
Because of its poor housing conditions, overcrowding and notoriety nicknamed locally, ‘The Bunk’.
WHARF ROAD.N1 (1840)
Re-numbered 1934.
A boundary road. Nos.11 to 53 (odd), the rest are in Hackney, nos,2 to 52. In 1840 the Wharf had as its owners the
Nottingham & Derbyshire Coal Wharf.
WHARF ROAD, Maiden Lane (1845)
After 1867 WHARFDALE ROAD.
After 1845 consisted of Trematon Place (1846-7), Albert Terrace (1849), Gordon Terrace (1846), St. Stephen’s
Terrace (1846), Haverford Terrace (1849), York Terrace (1846) and Wharf Road.
In 1845 there were Imperial Wharf and Falcon Wharf.
After 1867 subsidiary names were abolished and it was re-named Wharfdale Road. The public house nos.2 to 4
Wharfdale Road is named after General Picton and dates from c.1849-50.See PICTON VILLAS.
The ‘Prince Albert’ was there in 1870.
WHARF ROAD, NEW, King’s Cross (1846)
Here is Albert Wharf.
Carlo Gatti, ice merchant, was, there c.1861-2 and during the 1877-8 period, also at 457 Caledonian Road, and also in
1897.
By 1924 they had premises at 13 New Wharf Road,455 Caledonian Road and Caxton House, Tothill Street, besides
depots and wharves as the powerful United Carlo Gatti, Stevenson & Slaters Ltd., now United Carlo Gatti of Parkgate
Road,SW11.
WHARFDALE ROAD
See WHARF ROAD, Maiden Lane 1845.
Nos.50 to 62 were in 1964 declared a clearance area.
WHARTON COTTAGES, Wharton Street, WC1 (c.1912)
WHARTON STREET, WC1 (1832)
Designed by architects John Booth and son, John see LLOYD BAKER.
Joan, daughter of Philip, Lord Wharton, was buried January 13th 1644-5 at Clerkenwell.
In the vaults of the old St. James’s Church, Clerkenwell, was a monument to Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Exeter,
d. 26th February 1653. She had a daughter Diana, whose second husband was Thomas, Lord Bruce, Baron of
Wharton. This Church was demolished in 1788 see CLERKENWELL GREEN.
For the former Wharton Street Spa Fields Chapel see under LLOYD SQUARE.
George Du Maurier (1834-1896),artist and writer, author of Trilby and Peter Ibbetson (1894) was alleged to have
lived from 1851-1856 at 44 Wharton Street, whilst studying at the University of London.
ARCHERY FIELDS HOUSE 1939.
WHEELER GARDENS, (Delhi/Outram Estate) Delhi Street (1981)
In June 1978 the Council applied to the GLC for this name to be approved. Not on the registers of electors until 1981.
WHEELWRIGHT STREET
From 1863 to 1938 MARKET STREET.
Named after Charles Apthorp Wheelwright (1759-1816) who died at Brighton aged 57, 12th May 1816, former
Commanding Officer in 1803 until 1806 of the Loyal Islington Volunteers. In November 1803 Mrs. Wheelwright
presented colours to the Corps in the name of the ladies of Islington.
ANGLE COTTAGES are shown on the 1844 plan of Pentonville Prison. (Warders’ quarters).
PENTONVILLE COTTAGES are first in the June 1854 rate books, nos.1-11 shown.
WHEWELL ROAD (c.1869-70)
Named after William Whewell (1794-1866) in 1841 Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. Professor of Mineralogy
1828 to 1832 and of Moral Philosophy 1838 to 1855. In 1837 he wrote a history of the Inductive Sciences and he was
an important figure in the development of scientific method.
WHISKIN STREET, EC1 (c.1818)
Named after a Mr. John Whiskin who leased the ground from the Skinner’s Company for building purposes for a
term of 70 years, 4th November 1823 ending Lady Day 1888.
On 30th October 1833 the Bow Street Runners raided coiners in this street.
Contains the CONNAUGHT BUILDING, the Dept. of Chemistry of the CITY UNIVERSITY.
WHISTLER STREET
Not in the 1881 Census.
First in the 1886 directory, off Drayton Park.
Named after James A. McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), American painter, lithographer etc., her and lecturer who
settled in London in 1859.
WHISTON HOUSE, Richmond Grove (1937-8) William Whiston was from 1735 to 1737 a Churchwarden of St. Mary
Islington. William Whiston, MA (1667-1752) lectured in London and other places and issued more than 50
publications on religious, mathematical and other subjects. His 1737 translation of Josephus was long regarded as
the established version. His son John Whiston who died in 1780 opened a bookseller’s shop in Fleet Street known as
a meeting place for literary men and also his firm was one of the earliest issuers of priced booksellers’ catalogues.
WHITBY COURT, 10 Parkhurst Road (1975)
City of London Corporation development. Whitby is in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
WHITE CONDUIT FIELDS
From 1823 to 1840 appear as such in rate books.
George Whitfield was the inspiration for the zealous but eccentric Rev. Rowland Hill (1744-1833) who preached here
to thousands ‘under the canopy of heaven’.
WHITE CONDUIT HOUSE (1802)
Appears in rate books as such from 1823-1849,etc..
The former Conduit head was erected in 1641, situated in a meadow called Overmead, which latter was equivalent
approximately to the area of White Conduit Street as far as Penton Street. It was built over a head of water that
acted as a supply to the Charterhouse by way of a leaden pipe which continued a supply until about 1654. Fireworks
were staged here in the early 1800’s and up to the 1830’s.
The WHITE CONDUIT public house at 14 Barnsbury Road (see under BARNSBURY ROAD) is named after it and its
gardens and grounds were once famous, particularly when Messrs. Sharpe & Warren took over in 1811. The fields
around were also well-known.
The house was demolished 25th January 1849, but the present-day pub’s name reminds us of its former glories.
WHITE CONDUIT GROVE (1830)
On the 1841 Census. By 1848 DENMARK GROVE.
WHITE CONDUIT PLACE (1811)
Since 1910 MANTELL STREET, Finsbury,
WHITE CONDUIT STREET (c.1830)
From then until 1980, stood at the corner of Mantell Street, the ‘Spanish Patriots’ public house.
WHITE CONDUIT TERRACE (1809)
By 1810 nos.2 to 38 CLOUDESLEY ROAD.
WHITE HORSE ALLEY, Cowcross Street
Was there c. 1665.
Altered by the Clerkenwell Improvements, 1856-7.
WHITE HORSE COURT, Whitecross Street (c.1737)
By 1883 to c.1912 BELWARD AVENUE. Gone by 1917.
WHITE HORSE FLATS, Market Road, N7 (1956)
Named after the ‘Horse’ or “White Horse Hotel’ one of four hotels, each at the corner of the square of the former
huge Metropolitan Cattle Market or Caledonian Market, the Lion, The Lamb, The Bull and The Horse or White Horse.
WHITE LION ROW (Built c.1781)
Changed to part of White Lion Street 1789-90.
WHITE LION STREET (1778)
Named after a tavern, a large inn much resorted to by drovers whose sign was a white lion rampant and was there in
1714. It at one time had a bowling green.
A trade token of 1668 refers to a still earlier tavern and there may have been one in 1 1594!
From 1809 and through much of the 19th century the Gapp family were licensees.
The CLAREMONT CENTRAL MISSION occupied part of the Claremont Chapel (see under Pentonville Road. Claremont
Hall). It has been for many years a social welfare centre with youth clubs, clubs for the elderly, etc.. Since 1983 it has
been the Islington- Claremont United Reform Church.
It has baptismal records since 1867 and other records of ISLINGTON CHAPEL.
At no.57 White Lion Street was in the 19th century a Home for Penitent Females. Sixty were admitted free and if
there was no vacancy on the free list four shillings and sixpence admitted them to be ‘withdrawn from a life of vice
and trained to habits of industry and Christian virtue’.
The converted ‘Penton School’ at no.57 was in 1972 opened by Alison Truefitt, former Education Correspondent to
the Evening Standard and Peter Newell, former deputy Editor, Times Educational Supplement and Education Officer
to the Cobden Trust, as the WHITE LION FREE SCHOOL, a non-fee paying school for up to 50 children who will be free
to learn what they want.
After being affected by various cash crises, it was taken over in 1982 by ILEA believing that the ‘alternative’ style of
education should be preserved.
Also at the WHITE LION YOUTH CENTRE, near Penton Grove, has been since 1973 a Youth Centre for those aged 12
to 21 with self-defence, aerobics, judo, drama, writers’ workshop, African Dance, Yoga and a wide variety of
activities with branches for sport at Sir Philip Magnus School, Penton Rise and Copenhagen School, Boadicea Street.
The THREE JOHNS public house at no.73 was there c.1832-4, kept by a John Pinkeman.
The LORD WOLSELEY at no.55 was first so-named in 1891, but in 1870 was kept by a Thomas Main and from then
until 1890 was a beer retailer’s premises.
In the former premises of the Mount Zion Chapel Sunday School at no.71 White Lion Street was established the
Pentecostal Church of the Living God in 1968 by Bishop Francis of the West Indies whose wife mother Francis also
officiated. Here is a ‘Deliverance Centre’ for divine healings and baptisms. West Indian young people are strongly
represented here.
William Waite, miniaturist, lived at 63 White Lion Street. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1800, 1801 and 1804;
he moved to Abingdon in 1821.
Thomas Cooke (c.1811), the ‘Islington Miser’ (see under Pentonville Road) lived for a time and died at 85 White Lion
Street; he had been at that address during his latter years.
Thomas Shotter Boys (1803-1874),artist, was christened 29th January 1803 at St. James, Clerkenwell and was born in
White Lion Street, the son of James and Elizabeth Boys.
WHITE LION STREET MARKET
open from Monday to Friday is exceptionally busy at lunch-times. In 1861 over 100 costermongers were there.
WHITECROSS STREET
Nos.2 to 54 East Side and 1-53 West Side are City of London, the rest Islington.
Before 1882 there was Upper and Lower Whitecross Street.
For FORTUNE THEATRE see under GOLDEN LANE.
The street is an ancient one. ‘The Merry Man’s Meditation’, one of the ‘Roxburghe Ballads’, not long before 1660,
writes: ‘In White Crosse Street and Golden Lane Do strapping lasses dwell, And so there do in every street ‘Twixt that
and Clerkenwell.’
Here stood a white stone cross as early as the 15th century. White and red crosses defined the boundaries of land
belonging to the Knights Templars and the Knights Hospitallers.
From 1746 to 1771 during the reign over Sadler’s Wells Theatre of its manager Thomas Rosoman, his friend and a
supporter of the theatre was a Mr. Chalkill, a poulterer, of White Lion Street.
WHITECROSS ST. MISSION was founded in 1868 by George Vigeon.
PRIOR WESTON JUNIOR & INFANT SCHOOL (1968) is named after Prior Sir William Weston, last Prior of the Order of
St. John of Jerusalem in England who died 7th May 1540 when the Priory was dissolved by order of Henry VIII. When
he heard of the Order’s doom he died of a heart attack.
In November 1983 the children from the school took part with the flautist James Galway in J. Corigliano’s ‘Pied Piper
Fantasy’ at the Barbican Hall.
The first Headmaster, Henry Pluckrose, FCP is a broadcaster, author and lecturer.
The ‘Two Brewers’ public house was there in 1832, as also was the ‘Spread Eagle’.
The ‘British Queen’ public house was so named c.1953; before then, in 1950 it was a beer retailer’s shop.
George Fox (1624-1891) founder of the Society of Friends, used to preach at the Peel Quaker meeting house, St.
John Street and was buried in Whitecross Street 16th January 1691 near Bunhill Row. A headstone formerly over the
grave was removed in 1757 and the body re-interred to allow the burial ground to be enlarged. The old graveyard
was laid out as a garden in 1881 and then an inscribed headstone about 2ft. high was put over the grave.
The WHITECROSS ESTATE (Peabody Trust) was under construction in 1963. The flats in Whitecross Street were
designed by the Finsbury Borough Engineer.
COLTASH COURT 1969, COOPER HOUSE 1982.
SHREWESBURY COURT, Whitecross Street was there in 1723.
WHITEHALL GARDENS
Seven tenements in an 1855 rate book, near Northampton Row, Holloway and Cornwall Place.
WHITEHALL MANSIONS, Lidyard Road/ Archway Road,N19 (1895)
Re-habilitated, 1981.
WHITEHALL PARK
Designated as a ‘new street’ in the Vestry
Minutes 6th November 1891, in which year it first appears in local street directories.
A house called ‘Whitehall’ which was there as early as 1866, occupied by a Mr. Richard Porter, in Hornsey Lane,
overlooked Archway Road from 1891 to 1904. Then a Mr. S. Dore JP, lived there.
In 1973 WHITEHALL PAR K was declared a Conservation Area. Much of the original 1890’s ironwork remains and in
1969 the area of 12 acres and nearly 257 houses was protected by a conservation order.
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH dates from 1897 as a Parish but there is a Preacher’s Book with the G LC Records Department
starting in 1886 and there were baptisms entered from 1888.
By 25th September 1972 New Hall Accommodation was ready at the west end of the Church and on that date a
Service of re- dedication took place. The Hall’s builder, J.A. Mackridge, read the Lesson and present were the Rt. Rev.
Trevor Huddleston, then Bishop of Stepney, Michael O’Halloran, MP for North Islington and Cllr. Mrs. Patsy
Bradbury, Mayor and the Ven. G.B. Timms, Archdeacon of Hackney.
The former Mission Hall in Highgate Hill which had been used for many years as a youth club and parish hall was in
1972 bought by Islington Council but had to be demolished in a GLC road-widening scheme, as it had been made
unsafe and had undermined the structure.
LOWNDES LODGE 1972.
WHITE’S YARD (1740)
Included Basket Alley, there in 1732.
After 1898 GARRETT STREET.
WHITTINGTON GROVE, Salisbury Road
On the 1861 Census and in the 1863 directory.
Bu 1882 nos.1 to 27 Salisbury Road.
WHITTINGTON HOSPITAL
Archway Wing see ARCHWAY ROAD, St Mary’s Wing see HIGHGATE HILL, High- gate Wing see DARTMOUTH PARK
HILL.
WHITTINGTON PARK
Near Comus and Foxham roads.
Originally opened in 1954, but in 1973 when it had grown from 0.92 of an acre to about 6 acres it had an opening
ceremony in August addressed by Cllr. Harry Reid, then Mayor.
Over 300 children took part in a play and over 500 in a barbecue and disco in the evening. A time capsule to be
opened in 50 years’ time in August 2023 was buried with a message to be read by future Islingtonians.
Since then, the Park, after some opposition, was extended.
On July 19th 1984 Cllr. Rosie Dale, Mayor, opened a new Paddling Pool.
WHITTINGTON PLACE (1837)
See also UPPER WHITTINGTON PLACE. By 1887 nos.19 to 37 HIGHGATE HILL.
WHITTINGTON TERRACE
In a 1860 directory nos.1 to 7 and the Whittington Stone tavern.
By 1887 nos.39 to 51 Highgate Hill.
WHITTINGTON VILLAS
In the 1860 directory. By 1882 nos.30 to 40 SALISBURY ROAD.
WIDDENHAM ROAD (1904)
Like Stock Orchard, Hillmarton and Beacon Hill, Quemerford etc.. ,a Wiltshire place-name. See BIDDESTONE ROAD.
Widdenham Road recalls Widdenham Farm in the Colerne area of Wiltshire meaning from Old English a ‘hamm
where withies grew’.
WIDFORD HOUSE, Colebrooke Row (1966)
Widford is in Essex, near Chelmsford and there is also one 4 miles east of Ware, Herts, and a parish in Oxfordshire,
near Witney.
WIDNES HOUSE (Mersey Estate), Palmer Place (1962)
Widnes is in south west Lanes., on the river Mersey.
WILDERNESS ROW
Was there in 1614.
Was approached by Pardon Passage; part of Pardon Churchyard see PARDON STREET.
After 1878 included in CLERKENWELL ROAD.
Nos.10 to 12 was the home from 1822 to 1824 of William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) educated at the
Charterhouse. English novelist, still well remembered for Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon, Henry Esmond and The
Virginians.
WILFRED FIENBURGH COURT, St. George’s Avenue (1960)
Named after Wilfred Fienburgh, MBE.MP (1919-1958), MP for North Islington from 1951 to 1958 who died tragically
3rd February 1958 when his car hit a lamp post. His novel No Love for Johnnie was published posthumously in 1959.
His widow Joan opened the Arthur Simpson Library, Hanley Road, 2nd July 1960.
WILLBURY HOUSE (Hilldrop Estate). Hilldrop Road (1953)
Willbury Hill is on the borders of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, 214 miles north west of Hitchin and it has the
remains of an ancient camp.
WILLIAM LODGE, Grange Grove, Canonbury (1954)
Named after the architect of these police flatlets, William Stanley Grice who died in 1953.
WILLIAM MARTIN COURT, Margery Street,
LBI home for the retired. Named in 1968.
WILLIAM STREET (1836)
After 1864-5 part of COPENHAGEN STREET.
Great William Street (1845) after 1864, including ‘Alpha Cottages’ re-numbered nos.155 to 221 COPENHAGEN
STREET.
Little William Street, also known as William Street North (in the 1861 Census). After 1874 PEMBROKE STREET.
WILLIAM STREET NORTH
Also LITTLE WILLIAM STREET (1837) and William Street North on the 1861 Census. After 1875 PEMBROKE STREET
(q.v) for information on the William Street (Eliathah) Chapel.
WILLIAM STREET (1820)
After c.1916 INSURANCE STREET.
WILLIAM STREET, Dame Street (1847)
Since July 1936 re-named ALLINGHAM STREET.
WILLIAM STREET, Barnsbury (Wynford Road area) (c.1855)
Since 1937 ECKFORD STREET.
WILLIAM STREET, Camden Road (1850)
By 1874 WILLIAMSON STREET.
WILLIAM STREET, New North Road (1828)
By 1874 nos.3 to 15 OXFORD ROAD; after 1938 ELIZABETH AVENUE.
WILLIAMSON STREET
Before 1874 William Street, Camden Road, 1850.
ISELDON COURT 1975, PENRHOS HOUSE 1972, VAVNOR HOUSE 1973.
WILLOW COTTAGES
Before 1830 WILLOW TERRACE (1823-4) After 1861-2 CANONBURY GROVE.
WILLOW COURT (1780-1)
By 1851 WILLOW ROW. After 1895 LUDLOW STREET.
WILLOW COURT, Eden Grove (1968)
WILLOW GROVE (1830)
By 1837 re-named CANONBURY GROVE.
WILLOW PLACE, Balls Pond Road (nos.1 to 4) (1853-1863)
After then nos.22 to 28 Balls Pond Road. 22 was no.1 .after 1953 the ‘Willow Tree’ public house which in 1855 was
no.1 Willow Place — C. Audoyer, beer retailer.
WILLOW ROW
In 1851 from part of Willow Court (1780-1).
Willow Row, Cross Street on the 1851 Census. After 1895 LUDLOW STREET.
WILLOW TERRACE. Canonbury
In the Xmas 1823-4 rate book under Canonbury Grove.
From 1825 until after 1861-2 again after Canonbury Grove.
But WILLOW TERRACE, Canonbury Square in Islington directories until 1878. On 2nd of August 1978 the Vestry
decided that the line of houses between Canonbury Road and Street and known as Willow Cottages, Willow Terrace
and Canonbury Grove under the name of Willow Terrace, abolish subsidiary names and re-number the houses.
Willow Terrace became nox.13 to 22 Canonbury Grove.
WILLOWBRIDGE ROAD
In the 1860 Directory, nos.1 to 7 and Grove House. By 1882 nos.1 to 10 and Grove House. By 1889 nos.1 to 13 and
Grove House. ABBOT’S CLOSE 1955.
WILMINGTON HOUSE, Highbury Crescent (1966)
On the site of 18 Highbury Crescent.
WILMINGTON PLACE, Margaret Street (1821)
Closing Order 1920.
WILMINGTON SQUARE (1819-20)
West side built by 1828-9).
It takes its name from one of the titles of the Marquis of Northampton, who is Baron Wilmington. On 8th July 1886
the Marquis made it over to the Parish as a Public Garden.
WILMINGTON SQUARE GARDENS were laid out with railings c.1900-1. On 26th December 1887 the ornamental
fountain was wilfully destroyed. Nos .8 to 11 date from 1951 and 38 to 39 from 1969.
At no.10 in 1835 resided the Rev. William John Hall, MA (1792-1861), compiler of a collection of hymns and psalms
once popular with the Church of England commonly known as The Mitre Hymn Book. He was a minor Canon of St.
Pauls’ Priest in Ordinary to the Queen and subsequently Vicar of Tottenham where he died 16th December 1861.
On this spot and in the immediate vicinity were held the Spa Fields meeting of November 15th and December 2nd,
1816.
The neighbourhood of the ‘Merlin’s Cave’ was a scene of great excitement. Speeches were made by Henry Hunt, MP
and other members of the Radical Reformers’ Party. About 20,000 assembled. They included some distressed
tradesmen, mariners and manufacturers ‘for adopting some measures with a view to their relief.’ After a riot, a poor
sailor named Cashman was arrested and afterwards executed. One who took part, Arthur Thistlewood, was later
condemned and executed for his part in the ‘Cato Street Conspiracy’.
Sir Matthew Wood (1768-1843), Lord Mayor of London (1815-16) with five policemen put down the riot. The City
state barge, the ‘Maria Wood’ is named after his daughter.
F. Hammersley Ball (1879-1939),artist, lived in 1902 at no.20.
At the same no.20 c.1888 Aubrey Beardsley worked in the office of Ernest Carritt, the District Surveyor for sixteen
pounds salary a year.
Herbert Spencer was 1845-6 employed at no.27,then the offices of a railroad engineer and promoter, William B.
Prichard.
WILMINGTON STREET (1829)
WILSON STREET, EC2 (1795)
West Side, rest Hackney. Re-numbered in 1872. Tom Smith manufacturer of crackers, formerly of 8 Fredericks Place
(1847) in the 1890’s and 1900’s had the firm’s premises at 65-9 Wilson Street.
Since 1975 no.69 has been the Council of the Stock Exchange Directorate of Information Systems and Settlement.
WILSON STREET, Barnsbury (1831)
Only three houses in the 1843 rate book near York Place
After 1914 LAYCOCK STREET.
WILTON SQUARE (1853)
In 1847 the Salem Baptist Chapel moved to the Square from Hoxton. It was constructed in 1866 but in
1913disbanded as a Chapel. In 1931,the owners, the Clothworkers Co., sold it to the London & Manchester Insurance
Co.
The YMCA occupied the former Chapel from 1931 to1963 but after then the building ceased to exist.
From c.1860 to 1934 there was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist chapel, by 1934 Welsh Presbyterian, was near to
no.45, but not there after 1934.
STOCKS LODGE 1962.
WILTON STREET, New North Road (1847)
By 1866 nos.138 to 180 New North Road.
WINCHESTER COTTAGES, Killick Street.
On the 1861 Census.
Re-named Killick Cottages, 1936. There till c.1960-3.
WINCHESTER PLACE, Pentonville (1788)
Designed by Aaron Hurst, architect of St. James’s, Pentonville Road, demolished 1984.
The designs for Winchester Place were on show at the Royal Academy. Name abolished 1857. By 1860 nos.56-92
Pentonville Road.
See under Pentonville Road for Dabney’s Jubilee Gardens, Thos. Cooke, the ‘Islington Miser’.
WINCHESTER STREET (c.1786-8)
In a lease from Henry Penton of building ground is reference to ‘Great Grace Field abutting east on a new intended
street, intended to be called Winchester Street.’ After 1938 KILLICK STREET.
WINCHESTER STREET, NEW
In the 1852directory.
By 1887 a Board School and nos.58 to 60 Winchester Street.
WINCHESTER STREET, UPPER
So called from 1846 to 1886.
By 1887 nos.79 to 105 and 70 to 94 Winchester Street.
WINCHESTER TERRACE, Pentonville (1852)
By 1887 nos.39 to 71 Winchester Street.
WINDERMERE ROAD, N19 (c.1865-6)
Windermere is in the Lake District, Westmoreland and Lanes.
WINDMILL STREET
There in 1792. Originally Windmill Hill, there 1730.
Name abolished 1884. See TABERNACLE WALK.
WINDSOR PLACE, Windsor Street (1823)
In rate books 1823 to 1853. Name abolished 1859 for part of City Road.
WINDSOR ROAD, Seven Sisters Road (c.1859-60)
North Villa dates from 1898.
WINDSOR STREET (1822)
The former WINDSOR HALL was used from about 1870 as the United Christian Temperance Hall, becoming by 1882
Windsor Street Wesleyan Methodist Mission Hall (a branch of Liverpool Road chapel). This was bombed 14/15
October 1940.
CUMMING ESTATE on the site. FINNEMORE HOUSE 1950, GOUGH HOUSE 1954, PRICE HOUSE 1950, STRANG HOUSE
1950,TURNBULL HOUSE 1961.
WINDSOR TERRACE, City Road (c.1808-9)
Now Hackney.
Contains MICAWBER COURT. In Windsor Terrace resided Wilkins Micawber when he first took in the young David
Copperfield as a lodger.
WINTER’S MEWS, Tabernacle Street (1847)
Named after George Winter, the owner of these ‘sheds, lofts and stables’ near no.12 Tabernacle Row.
WINTON HOUSES, Killick Street (East End Dwellings Co) 1895.
Gone by 1950.
Isaac Walton (1593-1683) (see CLERKENWELL GREEN) under his Will bequeathed to his son Isaac his right and title to
Norrington Farm held of the Bishop of Winton.
WITCOMBE’S YARD, North Street (1853) Stables and workshops owned by Jonathan Witcombe.
Not on the Census but in the 1853 to 1860 rate books.
WITHERINGTON ROAD (1889) Witherington is 6 miles south east of Salisbury, Wilts.
WITHER’S COURT, (1733)
After 1861 WITHER’S PLACE, Whitecross Street.
Also spelt Wythers. Named after William Wythers, a property owner, Whitecross Street. Gone by 1956-7.
WITLEY ROAD (1871)
Witley is in Surrey near Godalming.
WOLSEY ROAD (1863) The ‘Lady Mildmay’ public house was there in 1866.
WOLSEY TERRACE,
King Henry’s Walk In the 1854 rate book and 1861 Census.
WOOD STREET (boundary road, Hackney) (1825)
Upper Wood Street, Clerkenwell was there in 1791. By 1844 Upper Wood Street.
Lower Wood Street 1848, after 1869 Northampton Road and 1877 PINE STREET.
WOOD STREET
after 1890 SINGER STREET.
WOOD STREET NORTH (1834)
After 1879 LEVERINGTON STREET. Gone by 1968.
WOOD STREET SOUTH
First so designated 1866-7. After 1879 TELFER STREET.
Not there by 1964. For TELFER SCHOOL see O LD STREET.
St. Luke’s Parochial Schools.
WOODBRIDGE CLOSE
GLC Andover Estate. Alsen Road site. Four new roads running westwards off Durham Road.
WOODBRIDGE HOUSE (junction of Woodbridge and Sekforde Streets) (1976)
WOODBRIDGE STREET, EC1 (c.1807-8)
Originally Red Bull Yard before 1778. An inn yard converted to a playhouse in the reign of Elizabeth I; rebuilt c.1633.
Was famous for comic presentations (drolls) and said to be the first theatre in which a female performer appeared.
Probably closed c.1663.
Named Woodbridge Street after Wood- bridge, Suffolk. It is built on the Sekforde Estate, some of whose revenues
were devoted to the upkeep of a hospital for the aged poor at Woodbridge, Suffolk.
For many years the street had a public house called the Noah’s Ark with a sign of the Ark over its door.
In 1794 there were complaints about persons selling fruit and potatoes and being abusive to passers-by.
At the corner of Hayward’s Place is the CLERKENWELL & ISLINGTON MEDICAL MISSION housed in the Woodbridge
Chapel, which opened 7th February 1833 which had seats for 664and Sunday schools.
It was acquired in 1898 by the Water Cress & Flower Girls’ Mission (John Grooms Crippleage). This undenominational
Mission had as its function to ‘heal the sick and preach the Gospel’. It has still done medical work, holds Clubs and
meetings and visits to elderly people.
The former FINSBURY DISPENSARY was established in 1780 in Rosoman Street for supplying the ‘labouring and
necessitous poor with medical advice and medicines.’ Until 1805 it was at 22 St. John’s Square but in 1806 moved to
St. John Street then in 1819 to King Street, 1838 Rosoman Street, 1848 Woodbridge Street 1876 to Brewer Street
and Friend Street, closing in September 1961.
Its records are in the Finsbury Library local history collection.
WOODFALL ROAD
Before 1938 MORELAND STREET, Seven Sisters Road,c.1869-70.
Henry Sampson Woodfall (1739-1805), printer and journalist, printer of the Letters of Junius, lived in Canonbury at
one time. For William Woodfall (1746-1803) see under COLEBROOKE ROW.
WOODLANDS, The, Aberdeen Park (1966)
On the site of 114-120, Aberdeen Park, 19634 Aberdeen House, then a hostel for West Indians,
WOODLAND TERRACE, Newington Green (1854)
By 1870 nos.48to 88 Newington Green Road.

Agdon Street, EC1
WOODSTOCK HOUSE, Highbury Grange (1973)
WOODSTOCK ROAD, Stroud Green, Hornsey (1871)
Appeared in Islington directories up to 1890, but Borough of Haringey.
WOODVILLE GROVE (1870)
Last on the 1963 register of electors. East, Dist. E.
WOODVILLE ROAD, N16 (c.1861)
Not in the 1863 directory, but one for 1866. Only one lamp was in the road in 1864. Built up further from 1870-4.
Since 1952 occupied by the flats of the MAYVILLE ESTATE nos.2-40 are 1967.
WORCESTER HOUSE, Astey’s Row
In the 1898 South (St. Mary’s Ward) register of electors.
WORKHOUSE LANE (c.1867)
A narrow lane which ran from St. John’s Road to Cheverton Road by the boundary wall of the former workhouse. See
St. John’s Way. Closed as a lane after 1891.
WORSHIP STREET
Before 1866 Finsbury Court and Providence Row.
The north side to Paul Street and the south side to Wilson Street are Islington, the rest Hackney.
The “Worship’ is a corruption of Worsop. John Worsop, a merchant tailor held land and property here in 1567,6 1/2
acres of Finsbury or High Field and 10 acres in Moorfield. The Norton Folgate end was originally called Hog Lane.
A foundry here cast cannon for the Civil War. This foundry was leased to John Wesley as a place of worship. This is
also given as a possible explanation of the name of this street.
John Wesley (1703-1791) laid the foundation stone of the City Road Wesley’s Chapel, preached there and lived next
door.
WORTHINGTON HOUSE (New River Estate), Myddelton Passage (1952)
In 1624 Dr. Thomas Worthington, one of the translators of the Douai Bible lived in Turnbull Street. He sold a copy for
40s. and his work The Anker of Christian Doctrine in four parts was also sold at a price of fourteen shillings from
these his lodgings.
WRAY CRESCENT
On the 1871 Census.
In the 1870 directory nos.2 to 9 Wray Park Crescent and nos.1 -3 West Villas.
In 1835 a Robert Wray lived in Hornsey Lane.
Since 1961 no.81 has been the Convent of St. John of God.
SEDGLEY HOUSE 1951.
WRIGHT ROAD
Before 1938 CANTERBURY ROAD 1854. Last in the East F 1948 register of electors. Named after Dr. Samuel Wright,
an eminent 18th century Presbyterian divine and author who died at Newington Green, 3rd April 1746.
WYATT ROAD (c.1875-6)
In the north aisle of St. Mary’s Parish Church is a brass to Henry Saville, high sheriff of Yorkshire in 1567 who married
Margaret, daughter of Thomas Fowler, who died in childbed in 1546 aged only 19. His mother was a Wyatt.
Nos.40 to 50 and 53 to 63 date from 1977.
WYCLIF COURT, St. John Street, EC1 (Brunswick Close Estate) (1958)
WYCLIF STREET (St. James’s Vicarage only) (1820)
Before 1935 LOWER ASHBY STREET.
WYCOMBE TERRACE, Hornsey Road (c.1860)
By 1877 nos.218 to 246 Hornsey Road.
WYNDHAM CRESCENT
On the 1881 Census.
In the 1882 directory only nos.2 to 7 shown.
WYNFORD HOUSE (Priory Green Estate), Collier Street (1956)
WYNFORD ROAD
On the 1871 Census.
Before 1872 Harford Place St. James’s Street 1840, Thornhill Street 1826-7.
Named most probably after Wynford Eagle, Dorset.
Mostly taken up with the Priory Green Estate, designed by Berthold Lubetkin 19517.
WYNFORD HOUSE 1956.
WYNN COURT, Liverpool Road (1962)
Named after the late Cllr. Alfred William Wynn (1885-1961) a Councillor from 1928-1931 and 1934-1961, a former
Alderman and Mayor, 1943-1944 and a former Chairman of the Road Safety Committee.
Popularly named ‘father of the Council’ in 1961, as a veteran Socialist.
WYNYATT STREET, EC1 (1800)
Nos.19 to 24 date from 1957.
The ground on which the street is built was leased of the Earl of Northampton.
In T. Cromwell’s 1828 History of Clerkenwell it is named ‘Wynyatt or more properly Wynyate Street’ named from
Compton Wynyates, seat of the Marquess of Northampton in Warwickshire.
MOORGREEN HOUSE (Earlstoke Estate) 1976.SOUTHWOOD COURT 1955.
Y
YARDLEY STREET (1818)
Re-numbered 1907. Upper Yardley Street incorporated with and numbered in Yardley Street, 1935. Portion from
Rosebery Avenue to Exmouth Street re-named SPAFIELD STREET 1936.
The street was built on land belonging to the Marquis of Northampton. Waltheof, Earl of Northampton,
Northumberland and Huntingdon was beheaded in 1075. He and his wife Judith lived at Yardley Hastings and Yardley
Chase, Northants.
By his Will dated May 12th 1639 Jasper Yardley gave to five parishes of which St. James’s Clerkenwell was one the
sum of £40 each ‘to be lent on bond for one year to poor but industrious shopkeepers or tradesmen, to put them
forward in life; and the testator, left much more to a hospital of which he was Master.’
In 1661 Thomas Yardley was a Churchwarden to St. James’s parish.
The WILMINGTON ARMS was there in 1833. No.15 dates from 1971.
YATES RENTS, Pear Tree Court, Coppice Row (1780)
Yates Court 1780, Yeats Rents 1841 Census, Yates or Yeats Rents 1851 Census, Yates Rents 1871 Census. Not on the
1881 Census.
YEATE STREET
Before 1938 CHARLES STREET, Oxford Road c.1868.
Named after Cornelius Yeate, MA, Archdeacon of Wilts, died 10th April 1720 aged 60 and to whom an oval marble
tablet existed near the east end of the north aisle of St. Mary’s, Upper Street and was buried in the churchyard.
BURTON BANK 1961.
YEATS RENTS
See YATES RENTS.
YEOVIL HOUSE (Andover Estate), Andover Row (1934) Modernised 1971.
YERBURY ROAD
Before 1877 this was the right angle part of MERCERS ROAD. In that year Waymouth & Son applied to the former
Metropolitan Board of Works for the name to be given to that part.
It was a well-known family name in Wiltshire, but originated in Somerset in the 16th century.
For YERBURY SCHOOL see under Foxham Road.
From c.1904 to 1950 the road had the Rupert Road Baptist Mission.
Then near Rupert Road was St. Matthew’s Mission Church, later to be All Saints Church Hall, originally attached to All
Saints, Tytherton Road. In 1968 it was vacant and taken over by Whittington Youth Club who then moved to Hocking
Hall, Rupert Road.
Since September 1974 builders worked on the conversion to the WHITTINGTON PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE which
has been in use since 1976.
RUPERT HOUSE 1982.
YOKE CLOSE (Shearling Estate) N7 (1980)
A yoke is used for cattle. Hence the association with the former Metropolitan Cattle Market, 1855-1939 see
CALEDONIAN ROAD.
YONGE PARK (1864) Name chosen by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1864 as was that of the parallel road,
Coleridge Road.
Charlotte M. Yonge’s father William went to a school at Ottery St. Mary kept by a George Coleridge. He was
connected with the Yonges by marriage. Charlotte (1823-1901) novelist wrote over 150 books but is now best
remembered by The Heir of Redclyffe (1853) and The Daisy Chain (1860).
YORK BUILDINGS, High Street
On the 1841 and 1851 census returns. Before 1825 in rate books as York Place and York Court, both there in 1817
and York Place as early as 1795. But in directories 1852 to 1874 as York Place.
By 1877 nos.322-330 Upper Street.
YORK HOUSE, Essex Road (1909)
YORK HOUSE, Highbury Crescent (1905)
See also under HIGHBURY CRESCENT re the mother of Jessica Tandy, actress and W.J. Harris, FLA.
YORK MEWS, 37 Dingley Road
On the 1871 census.
YORK PLACE, Upper Street (1795)
By 1877 nos.322-330 Upper Street.
At no.1 in the 1850’s was Thomas Miles, newsagent and librarian until 1978, Miles & Co., booksellers, of 323 Upper
Street.
YORK PLACE, Queens Road, Hornsey Road (c.1852)
Queensland Road area. In 1852 to 1855 rate books.
YORK PLACE, Pentonville (1809)
By 1856/7 part of Pentonville Road.
YORK PLACE (1809)
After 1936 Central Place, Central Street.
YORK PLACE, Barnsbury Park (1830)
In an 1863 directory. In a rate book for 1835 as York Place, Albany Road, Barnsbury Park. By 1866 called York Place,
Offord Road. In the 1870 to 1874 directories including Sussex Terrace and Clarence Terrace.
By 1877 York Place becomes 1-25 Clements Street, Sussex Terrace 27-49, Clarence Terrace 14-44.
YORK PLACE, City Road (1804)
Appears in the rate books under City Road. By 1860 nos.319-389 City Road. J.P.Andre, landscape artist, lived at no.25
from 1840-59.
YORK ROAD, City Road (by no.266) (1880-1)
After 1904 DINGLEY ROAD. YORK ROAD
Formerly Maiden Lane, after 1938 YORK WAY (qv). YORK ROAD from 1853 to 1937.
From at least 1853 to 1852 MAIDEN LANE (qv).
IN 1853-4 included Rosebery Villas. Re-numbered 1879. In 1871 included Buckingham Place, Commercial Place, Augusta Terrace, North Buildings, Belmont Wharf and Place, River Terrace, Albert Terrace, York Place and York Terrace.
Nos.155-181 were before 1897/80 from 1854 Queens Terrace, Camden Road. Nos. 196-200 and 216-228 were in
1960 the subject of an LCC Compulsory Purchase (Vale Royal) Order.
Nos.100-133 were in 1985 re-numbered 2-58 (even). Tiber Gardens (South-North).
YORK STREET (1829)
After c.1895 LORENZO STREET.
YORK TERRACE, Stroud Green Road (c.1872/3)
By 1884 nos.14-18 Stroud Green Road.
YORK TERRACE, Hornsey Road (1849)
On the 1861 census as York Terrace, Queens Road.
YORK TERRACE, Camden Road
In the 1854/5 directories.
YORK TERRACE, York Road (1846)
By 1882 nos.374-404 York Road.
YORK TERRACE, St. Pauls Road (c.1856/9)
After 1860 nos.122-152 St. Pauls Road.
YORK TERRACE, Nelson Place
In rate books 1852-4.
YORK VILLAS, Canonbury Park
In rate books 1850-4.
In 1866 directory under Canonbury Park West.
By 1870 nos.11-13 Grange Road, Canonbury.
YORK VILLAS, Tollington Park
In 1854 to 1866 directories.
By 1870 York Villas, Stroud Green Lane.
York Way

Treaty Street

Zoffany Street

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